By Erica Apeatua Addo
Ahwetieso (W/R), Nov. 19, GNA – One hundred and fifty-three apprentices who have successfully completed training in various vocations in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality have received start-up kits to establish their own businesses.
The beneficiaries were given sewing machines, hair dryers, spraying and welding machines, and a certificate.
Distributing the start-up kits to the beneficiaries at a graduation ceremony in Ahwetieso, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in a speech read on her behalf said, these aspiring entrepreneurs have honed valuable skills in hairdressing, baking and confectionery, sewing and welding skills that would empower them to transform their passion into sustainable enterprises.
She encouraged them to use the skills and resources they have gained to make a meaningful impact in their communities and added that, they should not hesitate to reach out to their Business Advisory Centre’s whenever they had challenges.
Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh said the Apprenticeship Programme, a vital component of the Business in Box Project, was a collaborative initiative between the GEA and Mastercard Foundation.
She said the government of Ghana under the visionary leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, remained steadfast in its commitment to providing dignified and sustainable employment opportunities for the youth.
According to her, since 2017, the GEA had facilitated the creation of over 109, 471 jobs, with an impressive 67 percent benefiting women.
Mr. George Mireku Duker, Member of Parliament for the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency and the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources observed that it was better to equip the youth who were eager to work than to give them a token.
The laudable programme, he said, must be replicated everywhere for the teeming youth, who were struggling to get jobs, so they could establish themselves for a better future.
“I am hoping they put the equipment they have been given to good use,” he said.
Mr. Duker stated that he had distributed equipment to support thousands of youths in his constituency and was therefore happy that the government was also committed to getting this programme done.
Mr. Benjamin Kessie, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem Assembly said, through the programme 250,000 jobs would be created within four years by the implementers, who were on course.
He expressed gratitude to the President, Vice President, and the MP for initiating the programme to aid the youth, adding the MP from day one had worked so hard to ensure that the youth in his constituency got a fair share of these equipment.
Mr. Kessie said within the formal sector there was no vacancy, and so any effort directed at creating jobs for the youth was the best, and he commended the government and other stakeholders for that visionary leadership they were showing to Ghanaians.
GNA