About 39,000 graduates, out of school and school drop-outs young people in the country are expected to secure decent jobs under the National Board for Small Skills Industries (NBSSI) in partnership with Master Card Foundation. Out of the number, 27,300 representing 70% will be women.
The 3-years gender inclusive project targets the vulnerable including persons living disability between the ages of 16 and 35 years.
The project consist of three main interventions; Innovation Creativity and Entrepreneurship( ICE) aimed at transforming young people especially, women into successful creative and innovative entrepreneurs.
The second is Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship, a program to equip both men and women to earn a sustainable income through apprenticeship and entrepreneurship.
The third component is business acceleration program for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), aim at accelerating and improving productivity and growth of SMEs through networking and access to finance.
Head of Entrepreneurship Development Department (EDD) at NBSSI, Ms Abiba Sumani disclosed this at the launch of NBSSI/MasterCard Foundation Young Africa Works project in Tamale under the theme;’Creating Dignified and Sustainable Works for Young People’.
The government through NBSSI Ms Abiba explained has facilitated the creation of 18,600 jobs, 60%of which are females since 2017. She reiterates the government commitment to developing young people in the country.
The provision of decent jobs Ms Abiba said was enshrined in the 2030 UN sustainable Millennium Goals which the government was committed in achieving.
Ms Abiba described the project as timely as the world economy struggled during corona virus pandemic.
She assured that there was hope for young people in the country who constitute about 57% of Ghana’s population.
Northern Regional Manager of NBSSI, Mr Baba Alhassan Yunus said the project will give young people dignified employment and dignified self-employment opportunity.
The project, Mr Yunus explained is currently being piloted in Tamale, Yendi and Sagnarigu Municipalities in the northern region and West Mamprusi, East Mamprusi and Chereponi districts in the North East region.
The NBSSI manager encouraged young people in the north to take advantage of the project and become self-employed.
A participant and an entrepreneur, Mrs Ruka Yaro share her experience the enormous benefits ahead of the full implementation of the project will go a long to reducing graduate unemployment in the country.
Mrs Ruka believes it will also help accelerate Ghana’s development in terms of youth employment, especially the apprenticeship model which will equip young people the needed skills to be self-employed.