Accra, Sept. 25, GNA – One hundred and eleven young people in the Western North Region have completed vocational apprenticeship training aimed at improving their livelihoods and reducing vulnerability to child labour.
The graduates, comprising 75 females and 36 males, completed training in various trades between 2023 and 2026 under an initiative by Cargill Ghana, in collaboration with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI).
A statement shared with the Ghana News Agency said the graduation ceremony was held at Debiso in the Western North Region on Thursday, September 24.
The programme targets young people with limited opportunities for further education or skills development, equipping them with practical skills to establish businesses and contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families and communities.
The beneficiaries were trained in trades including auto mechanics, carpentry, tailoring, baking, welding, dressmaking and glass fabrication.
Max Essoh Latte, Managing Director of Cargill Ghana, said equipping young people with practical skills and creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods could help address factors contributing to child labour.
“At Cargill, we believe that the future of cocoa is closely connected to the wellbeing and prosperity of the communities where cocoa is grown,” he said.
Mike Arthur, Country Director for ICI, said access to vocational skills and opportunities within cocoa-growing communities could provide stronger pathways towards economic independence.
“This initiative is an example of how we can help reduce child labour and poverty in cocoa-growing communities,” he said.
The latest cohort brings to 171 the number of young people who have acquired vocational skills under the programme, following the graduation of 60 beneficiaries in Sefwi Bekwai in April 2025.
Samuel Apana, Sustainability Operations Manager at Cargill Ghana, said the initiative formed part of the company’s investment in people and communities to build a more resilient cocoa sector.
He encouraged the graduates to use their skills to build livelihoods, create opportunities for others and contribute positively to their communities.
Dr James Kofi Kutsoati, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), said the intervention complemented the Board’s efforts under the Cocoa Sector Child Labour Monitoring System (CS-CLMS).
The system is designed to help eliminate child labour in cocoa-growing communities.
He called on stakeholders to work collaboratively to eliminate child labour and secure a brighter future for children and the cocoa industry.
As part of the initiative, all 111 graduates received start-up tools to support their transition from training into employment and entrepreneurship.
GNA