The Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation (OFAF) has been officially launched in Mankessim with the graduation of 55 artisans who successfully completed the foundation’s maiden vocational skills training programme.

The graduation ceremony, held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, brought together beneficiaries from Ekumfi and surrounding communities and underscored the importance of craftsmanship, vocational education and hands-on skills in promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.

The graduates, all girls, received training in hairdressing, fashion design and baking skills aimed at enabling them to earn sustainable livelihoods. To support their transition into self-employment, the Founder of the Foundation, Fatimah Amoadu, presented the graduates with start-up tools, including sewing machines, hair dryers and gas ovens.

Speaking at the event, Ms Amoadu, who is also the Deputy Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), said the foundation was established in Accra about 10 years ago before relocating its operations to the Ekumfi Traditional Area to directly support local communities.

“We started this apprenticeship programme with a focus on alleviating poverty. What we do is, we give trainees to vocational madams to train them as apprentices. My belief is that once someone develops their skills, they will be able to take care of themselves and won’t depend on other people,” she said.

She encouraged the graduates to extend the benefits of their training to others within their communities.

“I also encourage them that, as they have been trained for free, they can also pick individuals from their communities and train them. Gradually, as they train others, it will expand, and then the poverty gap will be bridged,” she added.

A native of Ekumfi Immuna and Srafa, Ms Amoadu explained that her decision to return home was motivated by a desire to empower young people, particularly girls, through sustainable skills training rather than short-term assistance.

“Our focus has always been on teaching young girls how to fish rather than giving them fish. When you equip someone with a skill, you give them dignity, independence and a future,” she said.

She disclosed that 100 girls from Ekumfi were enrolled on the artisanal training programme four years ago, with 55 completing their training so far, while the remaining 45 are still undergoing instruction.

The Paramount Queen Mother of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Benyiwa VI, commended Ms Amoadu for investing in human capital development.

“What our daughter has done is wonderful. We seek God’s blessings upon her life so that whatever she touches will prosper,” she said.

She urged the graduates to put their newly acquired skills to good use for the benefit of society.

“To the graduates, what you have received is a great opportunity. Do not sit on it. Use it to work so that others will also benefit from you,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Ekumfi Srafa and Sumankwahen of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Nyeiku VII, called for fair male inclusion in future training programmes.

“When you look at the beneficiaries, they are not fairly balanced. There’s no boy among them. If we can, boys must be considered in the subsequent programmes,” he pleaded.

Representing the Central Regional Coordinator for the Apprenticeship Programme, the Deputy Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kojo Gyamfi, described the OFAF initiative as aligning with the vision of the Mahama-led government to train between one million and five million youths nationwide across various skill sets.

“Youth unemployment can only be tackled when skills development is prioritised, and initiatives like this play a critical role in complementing government efforts. What Obaapa Fatimah is doing aligns perfectly with the vision of the government to train over one million youths,” he said.

He urged individuals with the capacity to replicate similar initiatives in their communities, noting that private interventions remain crucial in complementing government-led youth empowerment programmes.

The launch and graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone in the work of the Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation, highlighting the role of vocational skills and community-driven initiatives in addressing youth unemployment. The event attracted traditional authorities, political leaders, Christian clergy and representatives of Islamic missions, reflecting broad-based support for skills development as a tool for community transformation.

With plans to expand its training programmes, the foundation is expected to empower more young people across Ekumfi and other parts of the Central Region through practical skills development and entrepreneurship.