The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the National Youth Employment Agency (NYEA), and the National Apprenticeship Programme, has held a BizBox graduation ceremony for 242 beneficiaries in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
Start-Up Kits Distributed to Graduates:
The 242 beneficiaries, who successfully completed their apprenticeship training, were presented with start-up kits tailored to their respective trades. The items distributed included equipment for hairdressing, tailoring, juice making, and fish rearing.
The BizBox initiative forms part of a broader agenda to empower 250,000 young people by 2027 through the provision of tools, practical training, and in some cases, direct financial support to enable them to establish and sustain their own businesses.
Structured Apprenticeship for Youth:
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Madam Margaret Ansei-Magoo, explained that the National Apprenticeship Programme offers structured training made up of 70 percent hands-on practical work and 30 percent classroom instruction for young people between the ages of 15 and 35.
She noted that payments and equipment allocation under the programme are made directly to beneficiaries to ensure transparency and sustainability. According to her, the initiative is designed to help beneficiaries transition smoothly from apprenticeship to full entrepreneurship.
Madam Ansei-Magoo further indicated that the BizBox Project is part of GEA’s broader strategy to transform micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while promoting job creation and inclusive economic growth across the country.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs, stressing the importance of gender equality and increased youth participation in practical skills training programmes.
She urged the graduates to make productive use of the start-up kits provided and to manage their resources responsibly to ensure the long-term sustainability of their businesses.
Hon. Mutaka Mubarak Commends Programme:
The Member of Parliament for Asawase and Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, stated that even before the apprenticeship programme was officially introduced in his area, he had personally supported some young people with items after enrolling them in skills training.
He explained that the initiative was later expanded nationwide under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama. He commended master craft persons for their dedication and hard work in training the apprentices.
According to him, President Mahama has announced that every master trainer engaged under the programme will receive Five Thousand Ghana cedis per apprentice, while each apprentice will receive Five Hundred Ghana cedis until completion of the course.
MCE Praises Initiative:
The Municipal Chief Executive for Asokore Mampong, Hon. Ben Abdullah Alhassan, praised the initiative, describing it as a fulfillment of President Mahama’s promise to reduce unemployment in the country.
He also commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Mastercard Foundation for their collaboration, expressing hope that the skills and knowledge acquired by the young graduates would enable them to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Dignitaries in Attendance:
The graduation ceremony was attended by traditional leaders (Nanamom), opinion leaders within the Muslim fraternity, government officials, the Member of Parliament for Asawase and Minister for the Interior Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, as well as staff of the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly.
