By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, July 6, GNA – A total of 419 young men and women have graduated from a six-month Precision Quality Internship (PQI) Programme in the Ashanti Region, with stakeholders calling for stronger industry partnerships and sustained investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to drive youth employment and entrepreneurship.
The graduation ceremony was organised by the Design and Technology Institute (DTI) in partnership with Accents & Art under the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works initiative, which is designed to equip young people with industry-relevant technical skills, workplace experience and entrepreneurial competencies.
Held on the theme: “Smart Skills, Sustainable Communities,” the event celebrated the achievements of the graduates and highlighted the role of skills development in promoting sustainable livelihoods.
As part of efforts to promote self-employment, 32 graduates in the region received start-up kits valued at US$600 each, while five young entrepreneurs received seed funding of US$1,000 each to expand their businesses.
The beneficiaries will join more than 300 entrepreneurs at the Precision Quality Incubation Hub, where they will receive structured business incubation support for three months in the case of start-up kit recipients and six months for seed funding beneficiaries.
The Hub provides business coaching, mentorship, enterprise development training, market access support, performance monitoring and networking opportunities to help participants build sustainable and growth-oriented enterprises.
Since its launch in April 2025, the programme has trained and graduated more than 3,122 young people in Accra, Ho, Kumasi and Tamale, with more than 600 graduates securing employment opportunities.
In addition, 280 start-up kits have been distributed to support enterprise creation, while 30 young entrepreneurs have received seed capital to establish and grow their businesses.
Mr Peter Adu-Boahen, Vice Principal of Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI), described the ceremony as a celebration of learning, innovation, resilience and the transformative power of technical skills.
Addressing the graduates, he said: “You have completed more than a programme. You have completed a journey from trainee to technician, from learner to leader and from apprentice to agent of change.
“Skills are instruments for building communities that endure, communities that thrive and communities that sustain generations,” he stated.
He commended the graduates for developing innovative projects aimed at addressing environmental and community challenges, including deforestation associated with charcoal production, waste management in artisan clusters, urban sanitation and sustainable production practices.
Mr Adu-Boahen called on policymakers, industry players and development partners to strengthen collaboration in skills development, stressing that structured internships remained critical to improving employability among young people.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, Mr Richmond Addo Menetey expressed gratitude to programme managers, facilitators, workplace supervisors and families for their support throughout the six-month training period.
He encouraged his fellow graduates to remain focused, disciplined, and committed as they transitioned into employment and entrepreneurship.
Ms Vivian Okudzeto, a graduate of the upholstery programme, shared her experience and encouraged prospective participants to believe in themselves regardless of their background or level of experience.
An exhibition mounted by the graduating interns showcased projects focused on environmental sustainability, recycling, sanitation, waste management and sustainable production systems.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah