By Jones Anlimah
Forty young people from the Agotime Ziope and Central Tongu Districts in the Volta Region have benefited from a youth entrepreneurship training program designed to equip them with the skills needed to capitalize on business opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The entrepreneurship training program, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was organized under the auspices of the National Youth Authority. It aimed to promote youth empowerment and economic growth by providing participants with critical knowledge in entrepreneurship, business development, and market strategies.
The training emphasized how the youth could leverage AfCFTA’s vast markets to expand their businesses, enter new markets, and contribute to the overall regional economy.
The Volta Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Yao Sermodey, stated that the program is part of a broader effort to promote youth entrepreneurship and economic development in the region, positioning young people to contribute meaningfully to both the regional and national economy, as well as the broader African market.
“We are very glad to have this program as a way of creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs in this region to shift their mindset from looking up to others for jobs to becoming their own job creators,” he said.
Mr. Sermodey added, “You know how much our young people are interested in acquiring skills, learning trades, especially in areas like farming, food processing, and Kente weaving. Many of them are engaged in these activities. But how are they going to market their products? How are they going to brand them? These are the things we are teaching them here.”
The Director of Human Resources at the National Youth Authority, Mr. Ekow Eshun, said the initiative aims to empower the youth to drive economic growth in their communities and contribute to Ghana’s overall development. “One of the challenges young people in these sectors face is the lack of requisite knowledge in areas such as access to finance, managing finances, branding, and other essential entrepreneurial skills. This program has been designed to address these gaps so that young people can gain the knowledge and competencies needed to improve their businesses,” he said.
Mr. Eshun also reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting young people in creating sustainable businesses and helping reduce unemployment in the country. “We are expecting them to take advantage of the opportunities that the AfCFTA provides, enabling them to expand their businesses to other African countries,” he noted.
Some participants expressed excitement about the new opportunities the training program will offer them and the potential for their businesses as they seek to leverage AfCFTA’s opportunities.
“My name is Alan Bowman, I come from Kpetoe, and I am a businessman dealing in Kente. This program has helped me learn how to brand my business, advertise it, and put it on e-commerce platforms so that the whole world can patronize it. This way, I will get more customers and also earn more money,” said one participant.
“My name is Tawiah Francisca, and I’m based in Ho, working as a fashion designer. It’s been really helpful. We’ve been taught how to brand, how to distinguish our craft from others, how to market, and even how to interact with our customers. I think this kind of program should be done more often so that the youth can learn more about business and improve their daily operations,” said another participant.
According to the National Youth Authority, the successful completion of the training program marks a significant step toward promoting entrepreneurship among the youth by providing them with practical tools and strategies to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
