The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has equipped over 3000 beneficiaries with tools and financial aid to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, presented sewing machines, hair dryers, baking machines, makeup kits, and GH¢1,000 to each recipient.
The 3000 youth completed a two-week Rapid Skill Training program, gaining expertise in areas such as Soap and Detergent making, Wallpaper Installation, Dressmaking (Surface Ornamentation & pattern drafting), Electric fence/Gate automation, Solar Installation, 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.
Digital skills, including Digital & Social Media Marketing, Coding & Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Drone Assembly & Operations, Phones & Laptop Repairs, and Waste Plastics Recycling were also key focuses.
The training also includes master craftsmanship such as Plumbing and 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.
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, 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.
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) began its mission to empower Ghana’s youth on September 19, 2024. It 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.
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 threatens national security, and these numbers, have lessened the threats.