YEA engages residents at Westland on entrepreneurship, business registration and skills training opportunities

The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in collaboration with the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly, has organised a public education and sensitisation programme at Westland in Accra to educate residents on business registration, entrepreneurship and skills development opportunities.

The programme forms part of efforts by the YEA to take information on government employment and empowerment initiatives closer to residents and help young people take advantage of available opportunities.

Residents from across the municipality, including young people, artisans, traders and small business owners, participated in the outreach. Participants were educated on the importance of formalising their businesses and the opportunities that come with registering their enterprises.

Speaking to the gathering and the media, YEA District Director, Mr. Theophilus Kodzo Bedzrah, stressed the importance of business registration, saying it helps businesses establish credibility, enjoy legal protection and gain better access to financial assistance and other forms of support.

He noted that many small businesses continue to operate informally, which can limit their ability to access opportunities that could help them grow and become sustainable.

Mr. Bedzrah also highlighted the National Apprenticeship Programme, describing it as an important initiative for equipping young people with practical skills and creating pathways to sustainable employment.

He explained that beneficiaries receive structured training and mentorship in various trades, with additional support available in some cases to help them establish their own livelihoods.

The Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly has 13 electoral areas, making community-level engagement essential to ensuring that residents across the municipality are adequately informed about available opportunities.

The sensitisation programme is therefore expected to boost awareness and participation in YEA initiatives while promoting entrepreneurship, skills development and self-reliance among residents.

The exercise also forms part of the YEA’s broader commitment to bringing its services closer to the grassroots and ensuring that eligible young people have access to information and opportunities that can improve their livelihoods.