Kosi Yankey Ayeh

 153 apprentices, who have successfully completed training in various vocations in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Munici­pality, have received start-up kits to establish their own busi­nesses.

The beneficiaries were given sewing machines, hair dryers, spraying and welding machines, and a certificate.

Distributing the start-up kits to the beneficiaries at a grad­uation ceremony in Ahwetieso, Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in a speech read on her behalf said, these aspiring entrepreneurs have honed valuable skills in hairdressing, baking and con­fectionery, sewing and welding skills that would empower them to transform their passion into sustainable enterprises.

She encouraged them to use the skills and resources they have gained to make a meaning­ful impact in their communities and added that, they should not hesitate to reach out to their Business Advisory Centre’s whenever they had challenges.

Mrs Yankey-Ayeh said the Ap­prenticeship Programme, a vital component of the Business in Box Project, was a collaborative initiative between the GEA and Mastercard Foundation.

She said the government of Ghana, remained steadfast in its commitment to providing dignified and sustainable em­ployment opportunities for the youth.

According to her, since 2017, the GEA had facilitated the creation of over 109, 471 jobs, with an impressive 67 per cent benefiting women.

Mr George Mireku Duker, Mem­ber of Parliament for the Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency and the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, observed that it was better to equip the youth who were eager to work than to give them a token.

The laudable programme, he said, must be replicated every­where for the teeming youth, who were struggling to get jobs, so they could establish them­selves for a better future.

Mr Duker stated that he had distributed equipment to sup­port thousands of youths in his constituency and was therefore happy that the government was also committed to getting this programme done.

Mr Benjamin Kessie, Munic­ipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tarkwa Nsuaem Assembly said, through the programme 250,000 jobs would be created within four years by the implementers, who were on course.

He expressed gratitude to the President, Vice President, and the MP for initiating the programme to aid the youth, adding that the MP from day one had worked so hard to ensure that the youth in his constitu­ency got a fair share of these equipment.