Accra, Aug. 6, GNA – A total of 526 young people have graduated from the Precision Quality Internship (PQI) Programme in Ho, with 37 beneficiaries receiving startup kits and five entrepreneurs awarded seed capital to establish and expand their businesses.
The graduates were honoured at a ceremony held at the G.M. Afeti Auditorium of Ho Technical University under the theme: “Smart Skills. Sustainable Communities.”
The six-month programme, implemented by Accents & Art Ltd, an industry partner of the Design and Technology Institute (DTI), with support from the Mastercard Foundation, is designed to equip graduates who are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) with technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
As part of the graduation ceremony, 37 participants received startup kits valued at US$600 each to support their transition into self-employment, while five outstanding entrepreneurs were awarded US$1,000 each in seed capital to scale up their enterprises.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Mohit Sharma, Project Coordinator at DTI, urged the graduates to become problem-solvers and job creators rather than job seekers.
He said technical skills should not only lead to employment but also promote innovation, entrepreneurship and community development.
Mr Sharma encouraged the graduates to develop solutions to local challenges, embrace innovation, continuously upgrade their skills and build businesses founded on quality, integrity and customer trust.
He also stressed the importance of enterprise formalisation, technology adoption, collaboration and lifelong learning in building resilient businesses and sustainable communities.
Mr Christian Yao Amexo, Regional Centre Manager of the Precision Quality Internship for the Volta Region, said the programme offered training in Business Skills and Professional Development, Precision Welding and Fabrication, Hospitality and Hotel Management, and Precision Fashion Design and Apparel.
He noted that participants were drawn from the Volta and Oti Regions as part of efforts to decentralise access to quality skills training and employment opportunities.
Mr Amexo said the programme focused on personal transformation and sustainable livelihoods, adding that its objective extended beyond financial support to helping young people build viable careers and businesses.
Mr Charles Kwesi Gomenu, Ho Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority, encouraged the graduates to take advantage of entrepreneurship and skills development opportunities to improve their employability.
He highlighted the Authority’s collaboration with institutions that support apprenticeship training and enterprise development.
The ceremony also honoured outstanding participants for their achievements during the programme.
Madam Hester Mortoo received the Best Exceptional Intern Award, while Madam Ramatu Zakari was named the Most Transformed Intern. Madam Elorm Anani was adjudged the Most Exceptional Course Representative in Hospitality.
Mr Gideon Tanyegbe and four other graduates were recognised as Overall Best Interns and received excellence awards sponsored by Fidelity Bank.
The event featured exhibitions of learner projects focused on agricultural productivity, water accessibility, climate resilience, food preservation and sustainable livelihoods.
Organisers said the projects demonstrated how technical and vocational skills could be applied to address real-world challenges in communities.
Since its launch in April 2025, the PQI Programme has graduated about 4,090 interns across Accra, Ho, Kumasi and Tamale.
According to programme officials, more than 1,000 graduates have secured employment, while 401 startup kits and 45 seed capital grants have been awarded nationwide.
Five businesses have also received US$10,000 Growth Capital funding to support expansion.
With the latest graduation in Ho, a total of 81 startup kits and 10 seed capital awards have been distributed in the Volta Region, while 57 interns have secured industry placements.
The ceremony also featured intern testimonies, a sustainable fashion runway, certificate presentations, alumni induction and networking sessions.
All graduates were inducted into the PQ Alumni Network, which provides continued access to mentorship, professional development opportunities and industry connections.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade