One hundred and thirty-five youth in the Asante Mampong Municipality have been trained in various vocations for self-employment.

The beneficiaries accessed an all-expense paid apprenticeship programme for three years, organised by Sinapi Aba, a microfinance institution, in partnership with the Mampong Municipal Assembly.

Sheer joy and a sense of fulfillment were expressed by the 129 female and six male graduates of the youth apprenticeship programme.

Dubbed 'Hope for the Future', the three-year apprenticeship training began in 2019 for beneficiaries in the Asante Mampong municipality.

Free learning materials and financial assistance were provided to beneficiaries as they gained employable skills from their preferred vocation, including dress making, welding and hairstyling.

Project manager of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme, Margaret Owusu Asare, is optimistic the programme would reduce the youth unemployment rate.

“There is mass unemployment in Ghana and it looks like everyone neglected that side of apprenticeship training. Everyone wants to go to school. But this side too must be developed. That is why we also want to develop this side to reduce unemployment rate in this community,” she said.

The Sinapi Aba Youth Apprenticeship Programme has seen over 4,000 Ghanaian youth obtain entrepreneurial skills over its 19 years of implementation in the country.

The initiative forms part of the microfinance institution’s economic empowerment programme to transform the lives of the vulnerable and disadvantaged youth in society.

Municipal Chief Executive of Mampong, Thomas Appiah Kubi, advised the beneficiaries not to waste the skills gained.

The 135 graduates were awarded certificates after passing their professional NVTI examinations.

Desmond Brobbey, a physically challenged beneficiary and now a tailor, is grateful the training is contributing to his financial independence.

“Since I started learning how to sew, this programme has helped me a lot to sew a shirt from top to down to get some money into my pocket and save some,” he said.

Rosina Adaakuw, who learned hairstyling, does not regret joining the training.

“I needed someone to help me learn a vocation. So when I heard of the youth apprenticeship programme, I didn’t hesitate joining. This has really helped me a lot,” she said.

The training is currently underway in the Upper West and Northern regions with 300 persons enrolled onto an apprenticeship programme.