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Shatta Wale, the Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist and founder of ride-hailing platform SHAXI Taxi, has teamed up with the country’s Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
The partnership aims to boost youth employment in Ghana by creating thousands of jobs nationwide through innovation, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration.
Under the initiative, YEA will support the first 2,000 SHAXI vehicles onboarded onto the platform with monthly fuel coupons worth GHC 500 for six months. The financial backing is expected to reduce drivers’ operating costs, making SHAXI a more attractive option for young entrepreneurs and job seekers in the transport sector.
Malik Basintale, CEO of the Youth Employment Agency, said: “This is more than just a transport solution — it’s an empowerment initiative. By partnering with influential figures like Shatta Wale and innovative platforms like SHAXI, we are creating opportunities where the youth can thrive independently while contributing to national development.”
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The Establishment of Shaxi and Growth
Shaxi is a ride-sharing service championed by Wale. He started this business with over $2 million, aiming to create jobs for the country’s youth and reduce unemployment.
In interviews, he has said he could have used the money for something else, but decided to invest in a business to give back to the community. “I could have used the money to buy a Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini”, says Wale.
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Since its establishment, Shaxi has experienced significant growth in vehicle usage and driver sign-ups on the site. Recently, he posted that there have been 172,632 riders and 59,456 drivers on the site. These significant figures show how the business is growing and expanding into the other regions of the country.
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YEA Partners Shaxi to Boost Employment
In 2025, the CEO of the Youth Employment Agency promised to support the Shaxi business, seen as a way to reduce unemployment nationwide. Wale was happy to hear this information from the YEA team, which would help him expand his business.
Basintale further stated that he would support the business in growing bigger and better by using the means and connections he has to help it grow. “I have a partnership with a private individual who is bringing 150 electric vehicles. I have instructed my team that these vehicles will be registered in Shaxi”, says Basintale.
Additionally, he mentioned that if they register on the Shaxi app, he will support them as well. “The first 2000 vehicles that will register under Shaxi will be given a fuel coupon of GHC 500 for six months”, says Basintale.
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Shatta Wale’s Excitement over the Partnership
Basintale even mentioned being a free ambassador for the Shaxi and being on the promotional team that will be promoting the business for free in Ghana. Wale was happy to hear this from the Youth Employment Agency’s CEO.
Regarding this, Wale expressed a strong welcome for the partnership with the Youth Employment Agency of Ghana. The creation of Shaxi is purposely for the creation of jobs for the Ghanaian youth, “this is a dream come true”, says Wale.
The partnership between the Youth Employment Agency, headed by Basintale and Shaxi, Wale’s business, has sparked applause from Ghanaians and other media houses. A significant number of media houses mentioned that the partnership is aimed at job creation and urged Ghanaians to patronize it.
Who Exactly is Shatta Wale, Ghana’s Dancehall Icon
One of Ghana’s most well-known dancehall performers, Shatta Wale (born Charles Nii Armah Mensah), is renowned for his captivating stage appearance and popular songs. His comeback from Bandana to Shatta Wale, and his amazing, mind-blowing hit songs, earned him international recognition.
He has been credited with being the artist who can command thousands of fans to attend his stage performances. Given this, many companies in Ghana often use him as a brand ambassador to promote their products; he is the voice of the street.
