Over 3,000 Youth Employment Agency (YEA) beneficiaries have received vital equipment and financial support to kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys.
Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, handed over sewing machines, hair dryers, baking machines, makeup kits, and GH₵1,000 to empower these young entrepreneurs.
After completing a two-week Rapid Skill Training program, beneficiaries gained expertise in areas like soap and detergent making, wallpaper installation, dressmaking (Surface Ornamentation & pattern drafting), electric fence/Gate automation and solar installation.
Others include GPS tracking, innovative agriculture, manicure, pedicure, make-up, catering (includes production of local drinks), baking, access control system installation – doors, etc, CCTV installation, DSTV installation and auto /vehicle diagnostics.
Some beneficiaries were also given digital skills training such as digital & social media marketing, Coding & Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Drone Assembly & Operations, Phones & Laptop Repairs and Recycling of Waste Plastics.
There was also a master class on plumbing as well as 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 programme.
This effort addressed the dire consequences of youth unemployment, threatening Ghana’s economic and security architecture.
At the event, Deputy CEO Alhaji Bashiru Ibrahim commended the beneficiaries for embracing the challenges, particularly in the Kaya training programs. He announced that 2,328 beneficiaries had acquired unique skills in various areas.
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 expert and director of Africa Reports, added that youth unemployment is a threat to national security, and with these numbers, it has lessened the threats.