After undergoing instruction in various skills, 436 artisans from seven districts in the Eastern Region were given start-up kits. The graduates from the districts of Birim Central, Kwahu West, Suhum, Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Fanteakwa South, Abuakwa South, and New Juaben South are among the 1,300 Eastern Region artisans who have received training in their fields from the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation.
12,000 apprentice artisans have received training and entrepreneurship skills to launch their own firms nationally.
Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEA, made this announcement last Thursday at a graduation ceremony for graduates who received start-up kits for welding, hairdressing, barbering, and dressmaking/fashion.
Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh recommended the recipients to make the most of the products in order to make money to support themselves and their dependents.
She also challenged them to help the nation's unemployment crisis by training more kids in their local regions.
Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh emphasised that the government was taking practical steps to address the issue of the high young unemployment rate in the nation, which would significantly help to revitalise the economy.
Examining NVTI
Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, claimed that all of the graduates had successfully finished their technical and entrepreneurial training as well as the NVTI test. As a result, they were given start-up kits to help them launch their enterprises.
He was appreciative to the GEA and Mastercard Foundation for supporting the government's initiatives to educate and empower young people in the nation so they may develop the skills necessary to further its economic and transformational objectives.
Mr. Acheampong emphasised that "the government recognises that the youth are a crucial human resource with a global view who can be channelled into the national development programme."
In order to give the teeming young with real employment opportunities, he said it was crucial for the government and other key parties to collaborate and execute more sustainable policies and plans.
YouStart initiative
According to Mr. Acheampong, the government's "YouStart" initiative, which aims to encourage young entrepreneurs in gaining access to funding, training, and technical skills so they may create, develop, and expand their own enterprises, will begin operating in July of this year.
In addition to a record enrollment of over 45,000 students, he claimed that the expansion of free Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) has led to a rise in the number of TVET institutions from 47 to 200.