The Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has graduated 242 young people in the Asokore Mampong Municipality under the Business in a Box (BizBox) Project, reinforcing efforts to promote sustainable entrepreneurship and tackle youth unemployment in Ghana.
The beneficiaries successfully completed an intensive practical skills training programme held at the Aboabo Post Office Park, where they acquired hands-on competencies in soap making, sewing, juice production and fish rearing. The training formed part of the Agriculture and Agribusiness components of the BizBox Project, a flagship initiative designed to equip young people with employable skills and provide them with the tools required to establish viable businesses.
At a well-attended graduation ceremony, each participant received start-up kits and essential equipment to enable them to immediately commence their entrepreneurial ventures. The support package is expected to help the graduates transition smoothly from training into self-employment, thereby contributing to local economic growth and job creation within their communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprise Agency, Ms. Margaret Ansei Magoo, reaffirmed the Agency’s unwavering commitment to nurturing a new generation of resilient and innovative entrepreneurs. She emphasized the importance of discipline, financial prudence and responsible resource management in sustaining small businesses.
“We are committed to empowering young people with the skills and resources they need to succeed in business,” she stated. “We urge the graduates to make productive use of the start-up kits provided and to manage their resources responsibly to ensure the sustainability of their enterprises.”
Ms. Ansei Magoo further highlighted the Agency’s focus on inclusion, stressing the need to promote gender equality and expand opportunities for women and persons with disabilities in entrepreneurship programmes across the country.
The BizBox Project forms part of GEA’s broader strategy to transform micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and accelerate inclusive economic growth. The initiative seeks to create 250,000 dignified and sustainable jobs for Ghanaian youth by 2027, with a target of 70 per cent women participation and 10 per cent persons with disabilities.
The Asokore Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Ben Abdullah Alhassan, commended the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the Mastercard Foundation for what he described as a timely and impactful intervention. He noted that the initiative aligns with government’s broader agenda to reduce unemployment and strengthen the local economy.
“We applaud the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the Mastercard Foundation for this laudable initiative,” he remarked. “We are confident that the skills and knowledge acquired by these young people will enable them to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
The ceremony brought together key stakeholders, including officials of the Ghana Enterprise Agency, representatives of the Mastercard Foundation, the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly, community leaders and family members of the graduates. The event marked another significant milestone in ongoing efforts to empower Ghanaian youth through practical skills development, enterprise support and strategic partnerships aimed at building a resilient and inclusive economy.
