Business in Box Project (BizBox), an initiative of the government of Ghana in collaboration with the Master Card Foundation and spearheaded by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), has been launched in the Wenchi Municipality of the Bono region.

The project has five components, comprising youth skills development, access to market, access to startups, youth social network, institutional strengthening policy, and regulatory support.

The four-year innovation is a collaborative programme between the GEA and MasterCard Foundation to transform young people between 15 and 35 years across the country, focusing on women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Under the project, the government bears and sponsors the cost of apprenticeship for interested persons to learn any trade of their choice.

Briefing stakeholders during the launch, the Wenchi Municipal Head of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), Ms Evelyn Yangnuu, encouraged the youth to take advantage and register for the programme. 

She appealed to all stakeholders to educate, inform and mobilize their constituents to register and sign onto the programme and see its benefits.

In a speech delivered for him, the Wenchi Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alexander Obour Damoah, explained that the BizBox project is not only about providing resources.

“It is also about nurturing dreams, creating opportunities and building a resilient economic foundation for the people within our municipality and Ghana in general,” he said.

He added that the project proves the government's commitment to supporting the youth through skills development and improving the local economic development of communities.

“With this project, the entrepreneurial journey to economic success will become simplified to offer access to startup kits, market access, youth skills development, youth social network and strengthening our institutions to provide regulatory support such as business and product certification, amongst others,” he stated.

Mr Obour Damoah acknowledged that Wenchi has many rich talents and ideas, which is why BizBox has come to harness the potential of the young people of the Municipality.

He called on all to join to make the BizBox Project a success while working together to build a vibrant, resilient and prosperous local business ecosystem.

He stressed, "Together, let us create the enabling environment and sustainable future for the growth and development of our local businesses”.