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The Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) has graduated 242 young people from a practical skills training programme in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region, as part of efforts to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and youth employment.
The programme, held at the Aboabo Post Office Park, equipped participants with hands-on skills in trades such as soap making, sewing, juice making, and fish rearing.
The programme was delivered under the Agriculture and Agribusiness to Entrepreneurship components of the Business in A Box (BizBox) Project, which is being implemented by the Ghana Enterprise Agency in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.
The BizBox Project forms part of the Ghana Enterprises Agency’s broader strategy to transform micro, small and medium enterprises, while driving job creation and inclusive economic growth across the country.
At the graduation ceremony, each beneficiary received their items to enable them to establish viable businesses and contribute to economic growth within their communities.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Enterprise Agency, Margaret Ansei Magoo, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs, stressing the importance of gender equality and increased youth participation in practical skills training programmes.
“We are committed to empowering young people with the skills and resources they need to succeed in business,” she said. “We urge the graduates to make productive use of the start-up kits provided and to manage their resources responsibly to ensure the sustainability of their business.”
The BizBox Project aims to create dignified jobs for 250,000 Ghanaian youth by 2027, with a target of 70 percent women and 10 percent persons with disabilities.
The Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ben Abdullah Alhassan, praised the initiative, saying it was a fulfillment of President Mahama’s promise to reduce unemployment in the country.
“We applaud the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the Mastercard Foundation for this initiative,” he said. “We are confident that the skills and knowledge acquired by these young people will help them to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute to the development of our country.”
The graduation ceremony was attended by stakeholders, including representatives from the Ghana Enterprise Agency, the Mastercard Foundation, and the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly.
