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In a bid to foster youth entrepreneurship and create sustainable livelihoods, the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has presented start-up kits to 204 apprentices in Jacobu, the capital of the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region. The initiative is part of a nationwide effort to promote entrepreneurship among the youth, providing them with essential tools to start their own businesses and contribute to local economic development.
The beneficiaries, a mix of young men and women who had completed training in various vocational skills, were given the necessary equipment to launch their small-scale enterprises. The vocational skills covered included dressmaking, hairdressing, carpentry, and electrical work. The start-up kits, supplied by the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Mastercard Foundation, are designed to help the young entrepreneurs apply their skills effectively, thus creating employment opportunities for themselves and others.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Eric Oti Nyarko, the Ashanti Regional Manager of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, expressed confidence in the beneficiaries’ potential to build successful businesses. He encouraged the apprentices to maximize the benefits of the equipment they had received.
“These items are not just tools; they are your key to building a successful business. You need to take care of them and use them to generate profit for yourselves and your families,” Mr. Oti Nyarko stated. He reassured the apprentices that the Ghana Enterprises Agency , in collaboration with other stakeholders, would continue to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure their growth and sustainability.
Also addressing the gathering was Lawyer Anthony Mmieh, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the Odotobri Constituency. He emphasized the need for the beneficiaries to adopt a positive work ethic, which he said was crucial to building a lasting business. Lawyer Mmieh stressed the importance of maintaining good relationships with customers, which he described as the bedrock of business success.
“To succeed in business, you must have a good attitude toward your work. Be truthful and transparent with your customers, as trust is the foundation of every successful business. If you want to grow, you must build and maintain strong relationships with the people you serve,” Lawyer Mmieh advised.
He commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency and the Mastercard Foundation for their dedication to youth development, noting that the initiative was having a direct and positive impact on the constituency’s youth. Lawyer Mmieh further pledged his continuous support for similar initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the people in the Odotobri Constituency.
Several of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the support they had received. They acknowledged that the start-up kits would go a long way in helping them establish themselves as self-reliant entrepreneurs, able to contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.
One of the beneficiaries, a newly trained hairdresser, shared her excitement: “We are very grateful to the Ghana Enterprises Agency , Mastercard Foundation, and our parliamentary candidate for these items. This will help us start our businesses and provide for our families. We promise to make the best use of them.”
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic presentation of the start-up kits, leaving the apprentices hopeful and excited about the future. The initiative is expected to bolster entrepreneurship in the Amansie Central District, empowering the youth to actively participate in local economic activities and reduce unemployment in the area.
The partnership between the Ghana Enterprises Agency , Mastercard Foundation, and local leaders such as Lawyer Mmieh is seen as a significant step towards economic empowerment and development in the region, particularly for the youth who face limited employment opportunities. This collaboration is part of a broader strategy to support SMEs across the country, contributing to national growth and poverty reduction.
By Simon Opoku Afriyie
