About 2,000 apprentices in the Ahafo Ano South West District of the Ashanti Region are expected to benefit from the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), an initiative aimed at equipping young people with employable skills and reducing youth unemployment.
The programme, introduced by President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to provide practical vocational training opportunities for young Ghanaians across the country.
Under the initiative, which is supported by a GH¢300 million allocation, beneficiaries will undertake either short-term training programmes lasting between two and four months or long-term apprenticeships spanning 12 to 18 months in various trades.
Participants will also receive modern working tools, equipment, and certification upon completion of their training to enable them to start and sustain their own businesses.
The Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the programme, Patrick Opoku Fofie, explained that the National Apprenticeship Programme is structured to provide young people with practical training, financial support, and formal certification in their chosen vocational fields.
He added that payments under the programme are processed directly through the Bank of Ghana to eliminate middlemen and minimize the risk of misappropriation of funds.
The programme targets unemployed and underemployed youth, as well as individuals seeking to acquire vocational skills, including school dropouts, senior high school and tertiary graduates, and workers in the informal sector. Women and persons with disabilities have also been strongly encouraged to apply.
Speaking on the initiative, the District Chief Executive for Ahafo Ano South West, Hon. Abubakar Sedik, disclosed that the district is set to record about 2,000 beneficiaries under the programme.
He advised applicants who have already submitted their forms but are yet to receive their equipment or machinery to remain patient, explaining that the programme is currently in its pilot phase.
According to him, individuals who are not captured in the initial phase will be considered in subsequent stages of the programme.
Some beneficiaries who have already been selected expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and the District Chief Executive, Hon. Abubakar Sedik, for the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will significantly improve their livelihoods and support their work in various trades.
Story by: Afia Nhyira (0247220948) | Follow our social media handles @uktvghana | DM us for Ads on our website or any of our socials
