The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) says future police recruitment will place Community Protection Assistants (CPAs) at the front of the queue, following a new understanding with the Ghana Police Service.
The commitment was announced in Kumasi during the passing-out ceremony of 955 CPAs trained under the YEA programme at the Ashanti Regional Police Training School. The initiative is designed both to tackle youth unemployment and to strengthen community-level policing across the country.
Speaking at the event, the agency’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Habib Kipo, urged the new officers to uphold discipline and professionalism in service to their communities. He assured them that their training and field exposure give them an advantage in future recruitment into the Ghana Police Service.
According to him, the move follows strong advocacy from YEA’s Chief Executive, Malik Basintale, the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister for Youth and Employment. Together, they impressed upon the Police Command and the Inspector-General of Police to prioritise CPAs, who already possess a foundation in policing.
“These recruits are not starting from zero,” Mr. Kipo stated. “They have been equipped with the basics of law enforcement, community engagement, and crime prevention. This makes them ready candidates to transition into mainstream policing.”
