Accra: The Oti Regional Minister, Mr. John Kwadwo Gyapong, has highlighted the pressing issue of youth unemployment in the region, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address this challenge. Speaking at the apprentices' matriculation ceremony, Mr. Gyapong noted that the lack of job opportunities was a major concern that required a collaborative effort from stakeholders to provide sustainable solutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Minister emphasized that the matriculation ceremony was a critical component of the National Apprenticeship Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at revitalizing and modernizing the technical and vocational education sector. He said the integration of Master Craft Persons (MCPs) accreditation and refresher training was a deliberate move to ensure that the skills acquired were certified, competitive, and meet the demands of both today's and tomorrow's industries.
A speech read on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Programme Director, Mr. Malick Basentile, indicated that the National Apprenticeship Program had been designed to provide competency-based training and equip young people with employable and entrepreneurial skills. He said the programme had received an unprecedented response with over 115,000 applications since its launch on April 10, 2025, in Tamale.
Mr. Basentile narrated that the initiative aimed to break down barriers to quality apprenticeship training, including financial and nutritional limitations. He also mentioned that the programme targeted 10,000 beneficiaries from all 16 regions of Ghana, who will undergo training in nine priority trade areas. These areas include agriculture and agro-processing, craftsmanship and artisanal trades, mechanical and electrical trades, traditional crafts, arts and creative trades, fashion and textile trades, cosmetology, renewable and sustainable energy, hospitality and tourism, ICT and emerging digital crafts.
Mr. Basentile emphasized that training structure for ensuring the success of the program, selected master craft persons and training providers have undergone a three-day refresher competency-based training in program implementation structure, assessment methods, and accounting. He said the training was expected to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively implement the program.
The CEO highlighted that the programme aimed to train and certify 3,000 master craft persons, who will serve as a national pool of training providers. This initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the country's economic development by providing young people with the skills and knowledge to drive growth and mitigate high unemployment rate.
