Constituency youth organizers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Eastern Region have warmly welcomed the appointment of Foli Atiga, a constituency youth organizer for Upper West Akim, as the new Eastern Regional Director of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
Foli Atiga replaces Jerry Osei-Opoku, a former Eastern Regional Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who has been reassigned.
On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, about 30 NDC constituency youth organizers and some TEIN coordinators visited Foli Atiga on his first day in office to congratulate him and pledge their full support for his new role.
The group expressed optimism that Atiga’s leadership would bring innovative solutions to the region’s growing youth unemployment crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Nana Asare, the Abuakwa South Youth Organizer, urged the new YEA Regional Director to discharge his duties with diligence and creativity.
He emphasized the urgent need to address youth unemployment in the region and called for inclusive programs that would benefit all young people, regardless of their political affiliations.
“We are looking up to him to follow the President mission.we all know that there is unemployment situation and at the moment youth Employment Agency is the institution capable of given employment to the youth and we have confidence in him that he will deliver”.the Youth Organizers said.
The youth organizers also extended their gratitude to President Mahama, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, YEA CEO Malik Basintale, Eastern Regional Chairman Dr. Mark Oliver Kevor, and Regional Youth Organizer Richard Nyarko for their confidence in Atiga’s abilities.
They described the appointment as a strong motivation for constituency youth organizers across the region.
In his response, Foli Atiga expressed his commitment to fulfilling the NDC’s manifesto promise of job creation.
He assured the youth organizers that his administration would prioritize providing employment opportunities for young people without partisan considerations.
Foli Atiga also revealed plans to enroll youth without formal education qualifications into skills training programs, ensuring that they too, can contribute to the nation’s socio-economic development.
“Our manifesto to the youth is very simple it was on job creation, so me being a two times youth organizer and now as a Regional director, I am going work hand in hand with the people that helped us win power. This is not going to be political it is going to be purely based on merit. If you qualify, we give it to you, and for people who don’t qualify, we will make sure we help them get the requirements to fit into the system. We are going to look at vocational training to make sure everybody has something to do”, Foli Atiga said.
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), established under the Youth Employment Act 2015 (Act 887), aims to empower young people aged 15 to 35 through skills training and internship programs, helping them transition from unemployment to employment.
