A total of 6,000 trainees in various crafts celebrated their graduation from the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Skills Training Programme at the opening ceremony of The Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair.
Of the 6,000 graduates, 5,000 are skilled artisans across various crafts, while 1,000 specialise in garment and textile production.
In a speech read on behalf of the CEO of YEA, Mr. Kofi Baah Agyepong, Deputy CEO Alhaji Ibrahim Bashiru celebrated the achievements of this second cohort, who completed six months of intensive training in their respective trades.
“Today, we are here in the national capital to witness yet another graduation ceremony of trainees in the southern and coastal enclave, as was done for the middle and northern enclave in Techiman.
“We are witnessing the passing out of these talented young men and women who are now ready to contribute to our nation’s growth,” he noted.
Mr. Bashiru emphasised that these skilled professionals are now fully equipped to contribute to the nation’s growth.
“If you are fortunate to be here with us having undergone properly supervised training in these 10 areas, then we entreat you to cultivate the spirit of service to our beloved country and contribute to creating a future where young people will never be tied to the robe of unemployment.”
He noted that by hiring these talented young professionals, you’re not only benefiting from their exceptional work but also helping to reduce unemployment and uplift our community.
He added that YEA has implemented concrete measures to restore artisanal sovereignty and equip young men and women with modern skills that meet industry and global standards.
“The ever-evolving artisanal sector and the emergence of technology in every aspect of human life have varying effects on the future of our small and medium-scale setups, including formal sector jobs.
“These critical threats are the reasons to which the Youth Employment Agency has dedicated so many resources to revamping the artisanal industry to stand firm amid the worrying threats of 21st-century technology.
“The YEA had also painstakingly been advancing the course of ensuring jobs in whatever acceptable form are readily available for the youth of this country and have broken many walls in the long journey of fighting unemployment.”
In collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), participants at the two-week jobs and entrepreneurship fair are expected to benefit from direct employment, training, entrepreneurship development, and networking opportunities.
Over 5000 sustainable jobs are expected to be offered to competent and skilled individuals on merit.
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.
Participants can also expect to acquire practical training and mentorship through rapid skills acquisition covering areas such as CCTV installation, solar panel installation, fashion design, STEM, and more.
The fair, which aims to tackle unemployment, will provide business incubation platforms and financial support under a 3-tier funding scheme for research projects with a promising outcome.
Renowned business leaders will also deliver talk sessions on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of work.