Patrick Opoku Fofie, Ashanti Regional Coordinator of the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), has announced that about 2,000 apprentices are expected to benefit from the programme in the region as government intensifies efforts to tackle youth unemployment.

He disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a presentation of equipment to selected beneficiaries at Twedie in the Atwima Kwanwoma District.

He said the initiative, currently at its piloting stage, was designed to provide structured training, financial support and certification to young people pursuing vocational trades.

According to Mr. Fofie, the pilot phase in the Ashanti Region was targeting approximately 400 master craft persons (MCPs) and about 2,000 apprentices across various districts and constituencies.

“Initially, we planned to engage ten master craft persons per district, but due to delays in the process, we adjusted the number to six in some areas to allow us to move to the next batch and keep the programme on course,” he explained.

In the Atwima Kwanwoma District, six master craft persons were selected, with each of them assigned five apprentices, bringing the total beneficiaries in the district to 30 apprentices and six masters.

Under the arrangement, the programme provides modern working tools and equipment to both masters and apprentices.

Beyond equipment, the programme also covers the full training fees of the apprentices as government pays the agreed training cost directly to the master craft persons based on the number of apprentices assigned to them.

Mr. Fofie said payments are processed directly through the Bank of Ghana into beneficiaries’ business accounts, eliminating middlemen and reducing the risk of misappropriation.

“We do not handle the funds ourselves.

We validate the list, and payments go straight to the beneficiaries.

That is why this programme is structured to be transparent and sustainable,” he stressed.

The apprenticeship scheme operates under a contractual framework to ensure that master craft persons fulfil their training obligations.

Upon completion, apprentices will receive certificates, while training facilities will also be accredited under the programme.

Mr. Fofie noted that the careful implementation of the pilot phase, which had spanned several months demonstrated government’s commitment to building a durable system rather than launching a short-lived intervention.

He expressed confidence that once fully scaled, the programme would significantly expand access to vocational skills training in the Ashanti Region, equipping at least 2,000 young people with employable skills and practical experience.

Mrs. Grace Agyemang Asamoah, the District Chief Executive, commended President John Dramani Mahama for introducing tge changing initiative that would have a lasting impact on the Ghanaian youth.

She said the National Apprenticeship Programme was clear evidence that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government was fulfilling its campaign commitments through practical interventions aimed at reducing unemployment and empowering young people with employable skills.

Mrs. Asamoah urged the youth to seize the opportunity presented by the programme to transform their lives, stressing that the investment being made in them must be justified through dedication, discipline and hard work.

She encouraged beneficiaries to take their training seriously to become self-reliant and financially independent.