Hundreds of unemployed young people have been registered by the National Youth Authority in the Ashanti regional capital Kumasi for skills training.
The registration which took place at the Jubilee Park was preceded by a Livelihood skills and business fair organized in collaboration with the Federation of Professional Trades Association of Ghana (FEPTAG).
The event was climaxed with a youth rally which was attended by youth groups in the Ashanti region, entrepreneurs, Members of Parliament, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister Elizabeth Agyeman and the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Osei Asibe Antwi.
Addressing the rally, the special guest for the occasion, second Lady Samira Bawumia called for a stop to stereotypes that denigrate informal jobs.
Challenging the youth and the professional associations, she advised, ““We need to confront stereotypes that tent to classify apprenticeship and vocational training as reserved for the less privileged or the not so intelligent in society because most developed countries have the wheels of their national development all through vocations.”
The deputy regional minister Elizabeth Agyeman underscored the need for Ghana to identify and harness the talents of young people to develop the country.
She warned that “Ghana cannot achieve any development as a country when we ignore the contribution of the youth to national development because the youth of the country occupy great percentage of our population,”
Some young people who registered to receive free apprenticeship training who spoke to Ultimate News were elated about the transformation the interventions was going to have on their economic livelihoods.
A lady Osei Felicia told Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote Fumador, “I registered to do bead making. I was referred here by my elder sister. I have children and I think I can take care of them when I begin doing this work.”
A young Janet said, “I was told when you have completed school and you don’t have a job, you can come here and register to be trained. So I have come to register for dressmaking and I know I will go through successfully to cater for myself and my mum.”
A rather elated Theresa Obeng who had come to register for fashion designing told Ultimate News she could finally see her childhood dreams of becoming a fashion designer come to pass with the initiative.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority Emmanuel Sin-Nyet Asigiri told Ultimate News the youth will be funded by government to go through apprenticeship programs with professional Trades Associations in handicrafts and vocations.
He added that government will also provide the needed equipment and fees needed to start off the training programs.
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