Over 3,000 Youth Employment Agency (YEA) beneficiaries in Ghana have received vital equipment and financial support to kick-start their own businesses.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah handed over sewing machines, hair dryers, baking machines, makeup kits, and GH¢1,000 to each beneficiary to empower these young entrepreneurs.
After completing a two-week Rapid Skill Training programme, beneficiaries gained expertise in areas such as soap and detergent making; wallpaper installation, dressmaking (surface ornamentation & pattern drafting), electric fence/gate automation, solar installation and GPS tracking.
Others are Innovative agriculture; Manicure, pedicure, make-up; Catering (including production of local drinks and baking), Access to control system installation-doors etc, CCTV installation, DSTV installation and Auto/vehicle diagnostics.
The rest are digital skills training such Digital & Social Media Marketing, Coding and Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Drone Assembly & Operations, Phones & Laptop Repairs and Recycling of Waste Plastics.
Master Class
The YEA beneficiaries were also trained in Plumbing, Auto/vehicle servicing.
The Minister tasked YEA to monitor beneficiaries, ensuring they utilize these resources effectively.
This initiative aims to address youth unemployment and promote economic growth in Ghana.
Background
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) began its mission to empower Ghana’s youth on September 19, 2024.
The YEA launched a job initiative, providing networking and marketing opportunities to young people who completed a six-month training program.
This effort addressed the dire consequences of youth unemployment, threatening Ghana’s economic and security architecture.
At the event, Deputy CEO of YEA Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim commended the beneficiaries for embracing the challenges, particularly in the Kaya training programmes.
He announced that 2,328 beneficiaries had acquired unique skills in various areas, including
Beauty and Wellness: 548 in makeup, 245 in hair styling, 236 in nail art, and 125 in cosmetology
Culinary Arts: 257 in baking
Technical Skills: 127 in CCTV and DSTV installation, 117 in digital skills, 35 in electrical phase and gate automation, and 25 in solar panel installation
Entrepreneurship: 20 in innovative agriculture and 49 in local drink production
The event also saw participation from over 30 private and public sector companies, including the Cyber Security Authority, finance companies, banks, and service companies. Impressively, 10,000 job applicants are currently under consideration for employment.
The YEA acknowledged the government’s commitment to developing technical capacities, particularly in STEM education, to address the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The agency appealed for continued support to strengthen STEM institutions and urged beneficiaries to share their skills with their communities.
Alhaji Ibrahim’s speech highlighted the importance of equipping youth with employable skills, particularly in the maritime sector, to enhance sub-regional security and drive sustainable development.
This initiative demonstrates the YEA’s dedication to empowering Ghana’s youth and addressing unemployment.
As the YEA looks to the future, it plans to undertake more youth employment-related activities and seeks extended support from donor agencies, especially for women and persons with disabilities.
With this life-changing initiative, the YEA is sowing the seeds of a brighter future for Ghana’s youth.
The Africa Reports, key partners in the job fair, thanked the government for the collaboration.
Adiib Saani, security analyst and Director of Africa Reports, added that youth unemployment is a threat to national security, and with these numbers, it has lessened the threat levels in the country.
