The CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has challenged the youth to embrace discipline, innovation, and community impact as they begin training under the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP).

Speaking at the matriculation and induction ceremony for beneficiaries in the Greater Accra Region at the forecourt of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), he described the initiative as “a bold intervention to transform lives and shape Ghana’s future workforce.”

The event, attended by the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo; Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Akweley Ocloo, and the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, marked the official enrollment of the first batch of 10,000 beneficiaries across all 16 regions.

“These apprentices are not just numbers,” Mr. Ayariga said. “They represent the transformation of lives, the birth of new opportunities, and the future of our nation.”

The NAP is structured to provide competency-based training in nine key trade areas: agriculture, craftsmanship, fashion, cosmetology, ICT, renewable energy, automotive, and hospitality.

These sectors were carefully selected to align with Ghana’s development priorities and emerging labour market demands.

For years, young Ghanaians have struggled with limited access to quality training and the high costs of apprenticeship enrolment.

According to Mr. Ayariga, the NAP addresses these challenges by absorbing training and accreditation fees while also providing start-up toolkits to help beneficiaries establish themselves after graduation.

He further outlined the NYA’s role in ensuring the programme’s success, including:

• Mobilising and sensitising youth across districts to take advantage of opportunities.
• Promoting inclusivity for women and persons with disabilities in collaboration with community leaders.
• Supporting monitoring and evaluation to ensure accountability and efficiency.
• Linking graduates to entrepreneurship and employment opportunities under government initiatives.

In a direct message to the apprentices, Mr. Ayariga urged them to see the programme as a life-changing opportunity.

“Your success will be measured not just by the certificates you receive, but by the skills you master, the businesses you establish, and the communities you uplift,” he emphasised.

The NYA CEO also commended the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the NAP Secretariat, CTVET, FEPTAG, MMDAs, and traditional leaders for their collaboration in rolling out the programme.

The National Apprenticeship Programme forms part of the broader National Youth Policy (2022–2032), which seeks to position Ghana’s youth as drivers of economic growth and national transformation.

“As a country, we are laying a strong foundation for a generation of skilled, innovative, and confident young people who will shape Ghana’s destiny,” Mr. Ayariga affirmed.