NYA holds stakeholder engagement on apprenticeship programme

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Ayariga, has encouraged the youth to participate in the free National Apprenticeship Programme to benefit from artisanal training for a productive future.

He said the programme would involve partnerships with the private sector, particularly master craftsmen, to provide training for the youth.

Mr Ayariga said this during a meeting between artisans and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, in Accra last Friday.

The event was a stakeholder engagement within the Klottey Korle constituency, organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in one of the government‘s youth apprenticeship programme.

The GH₵300 million programme, which will be launched on April 30, 2025, is aimed at addressing the high unemployment and underemployment rates among the youth, with a focus on providing practical training and job opportunities.

About 10,000 young people are expected to be trained in various trades, including electricals, hairdressing and carpentry.

The purpose of the meeting was to educate participants on the programme, its benefits and the way forward.

Apprenticeship programme

The NYA CEO emphasised that the programme was aimed at ensuring that apprentices gained valuable skills and experience.

The audience at the event

He said interested persons could visit government offices, the district assemblies and offices of MPs to fill forms to apply for the programme.

He added that as part of the programme, apprentices would receive stipends, while a small fee would be paid to master craftsmen.

He, however, warned that moneys would be taken away from master craftsmen who fail to use the moneys for the intended purpose.

Mr Ayariga said the NYA would work to make sure that the programme was accessible to young people through the provision of information on the application process and organisation of counselling sessions to provide guidance and support.

Accountability

The MP for Klottey Korle emphasised the importance of accountability, transparency and serious participation in the training programmes.

She advised young people to view the programme as a nation-building initiative rather than a partisan one, emphasising its role in enhancing youth capacity and providing economic independence.

“We should not see this as a political or a partisan programme, but to see it as a nation building programme that is meant to enhance the capacity of our youth, giving people employability and economic independence.

“If we're doing this properly, it's a win-win (situation), where the government actually delivers, and the trainers and trainees end up having the opportunity to have tools provided,” Dr Agyemang-Rawlings said.

She encouraged young people to take the training seriously to adhere to timelines, and to ensure the successful completion of training programmes to receive starter packs and integration into the job market.

The Klottey Korle MP emphasised the fact that the money earmarked for the programme was taxpayers money, and, therefore, needed to be accounted for.