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Ghana Jobs and Skills Project launched in Wenchi

The programme, dubbed Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) is spearheaded and implemented by the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) and its subsidiary the Business Advisory Center (BAC).

Date Created : 11/21/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Stanick Amuzu Kpodo/Ghanadistricts

The project is a Government of Ghana initiative with funding support from the World Bank. The launch was to herald the message on the Project and mobilise the public to take advantage.The launch was also to engage stakeholders to lead sensitization and advocacy in their communities.

Addressing Stakeholders at the launch to kick-start the Project in the Municipality, the Municipal Chief Executive, Alexander Obour Kwadwo Damoah who delivered the Keynote Address canvassed for high patronage by urging the people in the Municipality to register in their numbers to benefit. He said the government's job creation agenda was still on course to enhance the socio-economic life of the citizenry.

In a powerpoint presentation to explain the Project, the Municipal Head of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC Wenchi ) Evelyn Yangnuu said the main objectives of the Project were to amongst other cardinals; provide Entrepreneurial skills, provide guide and counselling to persons yet to start business, those in apprenticeship to enable them establish themselves, provide skills training and technical support to make beneficiaries self-employed and economically independent.

This is part of the government's efforts to prioritise Technical, Vocational, Formal and the Non Formal Sectors of the local economy to help reduce unemployment.

The BAC Head also explained, the eligibility requirements that qualify prospective applicants for the Project include; Ghanaian youth between the ages of 18 and 40, years willing to start and operate business, physically challenged persons (PWDs), persons already in business, women entrepreneurs. Interested applicants should possess any of the National IDs (Ghana Card, Voter, Driver's License, and Passport).

The Head Evelyn Yangnuu clarified that Training for successful applicants would be held in stages where committed participants at the final stage would be provided with the competitive Grant support.

She disclosed that registration of interested persons had begun at the wenchi BAC Office while online application on the official portal would begin from November 2022. She urged Youth and Trade Association leaders as well as Identifiable Groups, all Stakeholders and the general public to help in advocacy to mobilise the constituents for the Project.

She emphasised that under the programme, everyone was covered as already existing business operators would also benefit from training on Value Addition to meet the growing demands of consumers. GEA would identify Skilled Crafts Persons, successful entrepreneurs and business experts to serve as Mentors and Coaches.

The Presiding Member of the Wenchi Municipal Assembly James Kwasi Oduro Asare admonished stakeholders and the public not to wait and rush at the eleventh hour for registration and put unnecessary pressure on the BAC Office.

The launch was highly attended by Trade Associations, Youth Groups, Religious Bodies, Traditional Authorities, Women Groups, and Persons with Disability (PWDs), Corporate Organisations.

In an Open Forum Session, stakeholders appealed to the government to set the age limit above 40 years. They further appealed to the government to initiate more programmes to support and build all categories of trades.