The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has entered into a partnership with Ghanaian dancehall icon Shatta Wale’s ride-hailing platform, Shaxi, in a bid to create more job opportunities for the country’s young people.
The collaboration, officially launched in Accra, will see the YEA support the onboarding of 850 new drivers under the Shaxi brand. Each beneficiary will receive a fully serviced vehicle to operate as part of the digital ride-hailing fleet, with the aim of expanding access to sustainable employment for youth across the country.
According to YEA CEO Kofi Baah Agyepong, the initiative aligns with the agency’s broader strategy to “equip young people with the tools and platforms they need to earn a decent income.” He described Shaxi as a “homegrown innovation that fits perfectly into the government’s job creation drive.”
Shatta Wale, who founded Shaxi in 2021 as a youth empowerment project, expressed confidence in the collaboration. “This is about creating something bigger than music — it’s about jobs, dignity, and putting Ghanaian youth on the map,” he said.
The partnership comes amid growing unemployment concerns among Ghana’s youth population. Recent figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show youth unemployment at over 20%, highlighting the urgency of job-centered interventions.
YEA says the programme will initially roll out in Accra and Kumasi, with plans to expand to other urban centers depending on uptake and impact.
Context Across Africa
Ghana’s partnership with Shaxi reflects a broader trend of African governments turning to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to tackle youth unemployment — a challenge affecting much of the continent. In Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, similar models involving ride-hailing and delivery startups have emerged, aiming to formalize gig work and reduce informal unemployment.
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