Over 10,000 trainees have graduated from the Youth Employment Agency’s (YEA) Skills Training Programme. YEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Kofi Agyepong, has called on the government to integrate these newly skilled professionals into key national projects such as Agenda 111.
A graduation ceremony was held at Valley View University in Techiman, Bono East Region, to celebrate the accomplishments of the first cohort of 20,000 trainees who underwent six months of intensive training in various trades. These trades include carpentry, beauty care, auto works, welding, electrical work, and more, equipping the youth with practical skills for self-employment and national development.
“We are witnessing the passing out of 10,006 talented young men and women who are now ready to contribute to our nation’s growth,” Agyepong said at the ceremony.
Agyepong appealed to the government to employ these skilled artisans in ongoing and future public projects, urging Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who was present at the event, to consider integrating the graduates into all Agenda 111 projects.
The YEA’s training programme, initiated by Agyepong, is designed to provide sustainable, long-term employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth. The shift from traditional short-term employment modules to hands-on skills training marks a strategic redirection of YEA’s resources and focus.
Agyepong highlighted the success stories of trainees like Rose Asante and Alidu Adamu, who overcame significant personal challenges to become skilled professionals through the programme. Agyepong urged the graduates to uphold integrity and trust as they embark on their new careers.
To support the graduates, YEA has provided each trainee with a starter pack, ensuring they have the necessary tools to start their businesses immediately. Additionally, Agyepong announced the launch of the GHArtisan App, a digital platform designed to connect Ghanaians with certified artisans, thereby simplifying the process of hiring skilled workers across the country.
As the government embarks on transformative projects like Agenda 111, which aims to build hospitals in every district, the integration of these newly trained artisans is seen as a critical step toward reducing unemployment and fostering economic growth.
Agyepong emphasized the need for government policies that prioritize the employment of YEA-trained artisans in all district-level projects, stating, “By hiring these young stars, you’re not just getting top-notch work; you’re also playing your part in reducing unemployment and lifting up our community.”
The event marks a new chapter for the thousands of graduates, who are now equipped to transform their lives and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development. “The time is now to make your families, the government, and yourselves proud,” Agyepong told the graduates.
