By Frank Kwame Abbor
Ho, Oct. 17, GNA – More than 200 young men and women from across the Volta Region have received vocational training and start-up kits to establish their own businesses under the Business in a Box (BizBox) project.
It is jointly being implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the Mastercard Foundation.
The beneficiaries, trained in trades such as dressmaking, hairdressing, masonry, carpentry, and food and juice processing, graduated at a colourful ceremony held at the Ho Municipal Assembly Forecourt.
The event marked the climax of the Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E/AA2E) programme, part of ongoing efforts to promote job creation and youth empowerment.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr. James Gunu, who joined Madam Margaret Ansei, Chief Executive Officer of GEA and representatives of the Mastercard Foundation, described the initiative as “a beacon of hope for young people and the small business community.”
He said the project aligned perfectly with government’s broader vision of building a 24-hour economy and fostering a resilient, innovation-driven regional economy.
“When we equip our youth with skills and the tools to work, we are not just reducing unemployment; we are building the foundation for sustainable development,” he stated.
Mr. Gunu commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Mastercard Foundation for their “unwavering support in nurturing youth entrepreneurship”, noting that their partnership was helping to transform lives and communities across the Volta Region.
He urged the new entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunity to grow their businesses, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to national development. “To our hardworking graduates, congratulations! The future belongs to you. Use your skills, be innovative, and create jobs for yourselves and others,” he said.
Madam Margaret Ansei, GEA’s CEO, said the agency remained committed to supporting start-ups and small enterprises through training, access to finance, and business development services.
She noted that empowering young people, especially women, was key to achieving inclusive growth.
She expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation for its continued partnership, describing the collaboration as a model of public-private cooperation that was helping Ghana move toward a more self-reliant economy.
Mr. Gunu reaffirmed that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council would continue to support youth-focused initiatives that promote self-employment, enterprise growth, and inclusive development across the region.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba