Thousands of young Ghanaians thronged the Independence Square in Accra on the opening day of The Ghana Report and Entrepreneurship Fair.
The two-week expo was officially opened by Ms. Rashida Saani, the Chief Executive of The Ghana Report; Ibrahim Bashiru, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA); and Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development.
The fair, which commenced today, September 19, will end on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Independence Square and the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The job and entrepreneurship fair, aiming to provide over 5,000 opportunities for Ghanaian youth, saw a massive attendance of more than 3,000 job seekers on the first day.
Some participants who spoke to The Ghana Report expressed excitement about the fair as they envision ending their prolonged unemployment.
While addressing the participants, Mr. Assafuah thanked The Ghana Report and YEA for bringing the event to life.
He urged all stakeholders to continue working together with the government to create jobs and build entrepreneurs to ensure that all Ghanaians, no matter their backgrounds, have access to a brighter future.
In her opening remarks, the Chief Executive of The Ghana Report, Ms. Rashida Saani, said the fair is a powerful demonstration of what public-private partnerships can achieve when they work together to tackle one of Ghana’s most pressing challenges: unemployment.
Stressing the numerous life-changing opportunities that The Ghana Report Jobs and Entrepreneurship Fair is offering, she extended appreciation to the YEA and other stakeholders for joining hands with The Ghana Report in this initiative.
“As we stand at the beginning of this fair, I am filled with optimism. I believe that by the time we conclude, many lives will have been touched, many opportunities will have been created, and we will have taken a significant step toward reducing unemployment in Ghana,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy CEO of YEA, Ibrahim Bashiru, speaking on behalf of his boss, said The Ghana Report’s agenda falls directly in line with the agency’s mandate and current priorities, and that is why they fully support the initiative.
According to him, participants in this programme will be taken through various training sessions, adding that about 2,400 young people will be enrolled in the Rapid Skills Training sessions.
The delightful Nana Ama Mcbrown also electrified the participants with her vibrant stage presence.
Upon taking to the stage, the versatile actress urged the youth to take full advantage of the valuable platform the fair has offered them.
The opening day also saw 6,000 trainees in various crafts celebrate their graduation from the YEA’s Skills Training Programme.
Of the 6,000 graduates, 5,000 were skilled artisans across various crafts, while 1,000 specialised in garment and textile production.
They received startup kits to aid them in the journey of their new careers.
Organised by The Ghana Report, a subsidiary of I-ZAR Group and winner of the Best News Portal of the Year and the Best Portal in Corporate Social Responsibilities at the 25th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards, The Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair is an innovative and life-changing programme designed to connect job seekers with employers and empower aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to succeed.
In collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), participants at The Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair are expected to benefit from direct employment, training, entrepreneurship development, and networking opportunities.
The Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair marks the second event within the year, after the hugely successful The Ghana Report Summit, which tackled misinformation and disinformation ahead of the crucial 2024 elections on December 7.
The Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair is part of the many social programmes and solution-based interventions by The Ghana Report.
