Enyo Sunu-Attah (left), a beneficiary of the Job and Entrepreneurship Fair, explaining a recylcing fish farming system to Ignatius Baffour Awuah (right), Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, and some dignitaries. Picture: ELVIS NII NOI DOWUONA

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3,000 Youth get startup boost

Joshua Bediako Koomson Oct - 07 - 2024 , 10:24

The government, through its Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has handed over starter packs and cash to 3,000 youth to enable them to start enterprises after they had received rapid training in diverse vocational skills.

The training took place at the Jobs and Entrepreneurship Fair organised jointly by YEA in collaboration with Ghana Report, in Accra for 16 days, from September 19 to October 4.

This brings to more than 13,000 the number of young people who have been given skills and start-up capital to start their trade in hairdressing, makeup artistry, dressmaking, cosmetology, soap making, woodwork, tiling and plumbing, among others.

More than 30 private and public sector companies and institutions, including security agencies, financial institutions and insurance companies, also took part in the fair to offer both training and employable avenues to the participants.

Impressively, 10,000 job applicants are currently under consideration for employment.

Among the beneficiaries were 548 female porters (kayayei) who were trained in six areas, including soap and detergent making, bead making, decoration, baking, pedicure and manicure.

Additionally, technical skills were provided in areas such as CCTV and digital satellite television installation, digital skills, installation of electrical gate and fence automation; solar panel installation, innovative agriculture, and local drink production.

Other areas of skills acquisition are digital & social media marketing, coding & robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), drone assembly & operation, phones & laptop repairs, recycling of plastic waste, as well as auto/vehicle servicing.

The initiative was to equip participants with entrepreneurial skills for self-employment.

In addition to start-up tools for their specific trades, beneficiaries were given GH¢1,000 to further support their entrepreneurial journey, all of which amount to more than GH¢3 million.

The tools and resources were presented last Friday in Accra, preparing the beneficiaries for the next step in their careers.

The Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, handed over the starter packs, which included sewing machines, hairdryers, baking machines, make-up kits, and GH¢1,000 to each of the beneficiaries to empower them to become entrepreneurs.

He commended the partners and entreated the beneficiaries to embrace their new skills as a pathway to self-employment.

While commending YEA and The Ghana Report, among others, for the successful programme, Mr Baffour Awuah stated: “I’m happy about one thing, and that is, people have to come to realise that learning a trade is the best way to solving the high unemployment rate facing the country”.

The minister said the project was an indication that when state institutions worked together rather than working in silos, a lot could be achieved.

Mr Baffour Awuah tasked YEA to monitor the beneficiaries, ensuring they utilised the resources effectively, saying, “this initiative aims to address youth unemployment and promote economic growth in Ghana”.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim, commended the beneficiaries for embracing the challenges, particularly in the training programmes for the female porters.

He announced that 2,328 beneficiaries had so far acquired unique skills in various areas.

The YEA Deputy CEO acknowledged the government's commitment to developing technical capacities, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, to address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The agency appealed for continued support to strengthen STEM institutions and urged beneficiaries to share their skills with their communities.

Alhaji Ibrahim also highlighted the importance of equipping youth with employable skills, particularly in the maritime sector, to enhance sub-regional security and drive sustainable development.

He said the initiative demonstrated the YEA's dedication to empowering Ghana's youth and addressing unemployment.

Significance

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the YEA, Prince Obeng, emphasised the importance of the skills training programme in addressing the youth unemployment crisis.

He stated that the initiative was part of a broader government effort, citing the Free Senior High School, industrialisation and digitalisation programmes as key components driving the country’s development.

Mr Obeng said with the graduation, about 13,000 youth had so far been trained by the YEA.