As part of plans to reduce the unemployment rate in the country, the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency, GYEEDA will soon roll-out a project expected to create jobs for some 5000 youth. The Project, dubbed Youth in Leather Works, falls under GYEEDA’s Trades and Vocation composite. The State Agency is partnering CraftPRO Limited, a private company to carry out the six months venture with beneficiaries selected from three regions; Volta, Ashanti and Upper East. Currently GYEEDA and CraftPRO officials have been engaging the leather weaving trainers from the three regions at separate orientation exercises. “They have been contracted to carry out the training programme and are being schooled on the project outline and contract agreement as well as other vital information about the Leather Works Project” said the Executive Director of CraftPRO, Mr. Henry Kangah. He said the beneficiaries selected from the three regions will be trained on how to design and manufacture hand-made slippers, leather shoes, bags, belts, sandals, hats, foot rest, wrist bands, purse and other accessories for internal use and export to generate income. The project will be structured in three phases, training, setup and micro finance stage. After acquiring basic training, the second phase of the project, which is the set-up stage, is the exit strategy of the beneficiaries put in place by GYEEDA and Craft Pro Ghana. It is meant to ensure sustainability and job security of the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries will then be provided with an optional micro facility fund to expand and grow their businesses. The venture between GYEEDA and CraftPRO follow similar partnerships including the basket weaving project during which 3000 women were trained in straw basket weaving, and entrepreneurial skills development. The Executive Director of GYEEDA Abuga Pele sees the project as another effort by government to find sustainable job opportunities for her active youth.