By Solomon Gumah
Walewale (NE/R), June 30, GNA – YEFL Ghana, a non-government organisation, with support from Wilde Ganzen through the Blue Ambition Fund has presented training kits, equipment and learning materials to 134 young apprentices in the North East and Savannah Regions.
The initiative, which fell under its Training for Youth Employment and Market Access (TUMA) project, was to improve practical skills acquisition, increase apprenticeship completion rates, enhance entrepreneurship opportunities and contribute to sustainable livelihoods for young people.
The beneficiaries comprised 94 apprentices from the West Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region and 40 from the West Gonja Municipality in the Savannah Region.
The apprentices are currently undergoing apprenticeship training in fashion and design, hairdressing, makeup and decoration, and weaving.
Under the project, beneficiaries in the West Mamprusi Municipality included 44 trainees in fashion and design, 24 in hairdressing, 16 in makeup and decoration, and 10 in weaving.
In the West Gonja Municipality, 23 beneficiaries are pursuing fashion and design, seven in hairdressing while 10 are receiving training in makeup and decoration.
The TUMA project seeks to empower young people with vocational, entrepreneurship and agribusiness skills to enhance their employability and improve their livelihoods.
Madam Vera Jawol Magan, Executive Director, YEFL Ghana, addressing stakeholders during the handing over ceremony at Walewale, in the North East Region, said the project was initiated in August 2025 in response to the growing number of young people, who were not in education, employment or training, especially young women, who faced significant barriers to economic participation.
She said the project aimed to equip beneficiaries with practical vocational skills and entrepreneurship competencies to enable them to establish sustainable businesses or secure decent employment.
She said “The project is designed to create opportunities for young people to become economically independent. By investing in their skills today, we are preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.”
Madam Magan said 60 per cent of the project’s beneficiaries were young women, while 40% were young men reflecting the organisation’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
She explained that the project was being implemented in partnership with the Municipal and District Assemblies, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), craft masters and other local stakeholders to ensure quality skills training.
She said the provision of training kits and learning materials would improve practical learning, increase trainees’ competencies, reduce barriers to completing apprenticeship programmes and prepare beneficiaries for self-employment.
Mr Mohammed Habib Jabaah, the West Mamprusi Municipal Chief Executive, commended the YEFL Ghana and its partners for complementing government’s efforts to promote technical and vocational education.
He urged the apprentices to make judicious use of the training kits and remain committed to their training to become skilled professionals capable of contributing to local economic development.
Miss Sarah Wuni, a beneficiary of the project from the Zangum community in the West Mamprusi Municipality, who is undergoing fashion and design training, thanked YEFL Ghana and its partners for the support.
The YEFL Ghana is a youth-led NGO committed to empowering young people through education, skills development, entrepreneurship, advocacy, health promotion and sustainable livelihood interventions.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
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