By Dennis Peprah
Mampong, (Ashanti), Feb. 5, GNA-Two hundred and nine young agri-entrepreneurs, mostly women, have graduated from a-12-week intensive market-driven training at the Asante Mampong Campus of the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) in the Ashanti Region.
The training sought to equip the participants, with about 86 percent women, as well as 10 Persons Living with Disabilities (PwDs) with the requisite entrepreneurial and marketing skills to improve and expand their businesses.
According to the university, the graduation marked a key milestone for the implementation of its “Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agricultural TVET” (ACTIVATE) project.
ACTIVATE is a five-year initiative by World University Services of Canada (WUSC) and the Mastercard Foundation, aimed at creating a more gender-responsive and inclusive agricultural training system that leads to sustainable employment and resilience for youth.
Addressing the graduation ceremony held at Asante Mampong, Dr Benjamin Aboagye Danso, the Project Coordinator, said the AAMUSTED’s mandate was to help reduce the unemployment situation particularly among the teaming youth in the country.
He said the training was its first cohort of the project short courses, explaining that the three-month training ran from August to November 2025.
The course offered practical modules in post-harvest Handling and food processing, livestock health management, non-traditional agriculture production, and vegetable production and primary processing.
Dr Danso said the project data revealed impressive pre-graduation traction of;132 learners already earning income from their acquired skills, saying that 114 entrepreneurs received support to formally register their businesses and access low-interest loans through partners Agrinvest and the Nsutaman Rural Bank.
Multiple job placements were secured, with all 24 Livestock health management graduates placed under mentorship with veterinary field personnel, he stated adding that early-stage agribusinesses launched, including new farms, vegetable trading ventures, and food processing enterprises.
“The WUSC ACTIVATE short courses at AAMUSTED-Mampong have effectively translated skills training into tangible entrepreneurial and employment outcomes,” Dr Danso said, adding that, the programme’s “Youth in Work” strategy integrated hands-on practice, seed funding, mentorship, and strong industry linkages.
Mr Issifu Yakubu, the Mampong Municipal Chief Executive who spoke on the theme: “Investing in Young Entrepreneurs: Growing Sustainable Economies from the Ground Up,” encouraged the graduates to make use of the skills and training received from the short courses.
He pledged the government’s support to youth empowerment through government initiatives like the Adwumawura Feed Ghana project, poultry support programme among others, and urged the graduates to seek further support in the bid of actualizing their aims.
Dr Mike Amofa Dankwah, a philanthropist and the Chief Executive Officer of the Madenan Company Ltd, donated an undisclosed sum of money into a revolving fund managed by Nsutaman Rural Bank to provide seed capital for the graduates to open their businesses.
He urged the graduates to remain agents of change in their respective communities. With the cohort successfully transitioning into the agribusiness ecosystem, the WUSC-ACTIVATE short courses demonstrate a potent model for reducing post-harvest losses, empowering youth, and driving inclusive economic growth from the ground up.
Some of the participants shared their experience with Ghana News Agency (GNA), describing the training as insightful and commended the organisers. “I am now earning an income by applying what I learned in the livestock health management class.
To date, I have vaccinated over 5,000 poultry birds, castrated six billy goats, and dewormed 36 sheep,” Mr Richard Osei Mireku, a participant stated.
“Thanks to the food processing skills I gained at the WUSC short course, I was able to supply GH¢3,000 worth of assorted local drinks for a wedding just last Sunday,” Madam Susanna Pokua, another one added.
Madam Patience Noi, another participant, said: “Although I was a practicing farmer before the programme, I have significantly improved my carrot business. I now keep proper records, adhere to safety protocols, and use improved marketing strategies.
“I have also obtained a business certificate to qualify for a loan thanks to the ACTIVATE project.”
Each of the participants, including a hearing-impaired person, received a certificate of participation.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah