The pilot phase of the National Youth Apprenticeship Programme has commenced in the Ashanti Region, with over 1,000 young people receiving tools and equipment to enable them acquire employable skills.

At a brief ceremony held at Ejisu to officially hand over the apprenticeship equipment to various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) for onward distribution, the deputy Chief Executive Officer of the programme, Alhaji Inusa Mahama, reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment through skills development.

According to him, the programme’s first batch targets 14,000 beneficiaries nationwide, with plans already underway to expand the initiative to 100,000 youth in the second phase.

Mr Inusa Mahama disclosed that, aside from the training equipment, beneficiaries will also receive monthly mobile money stipends to support their transportation as they learn their respective trades under master craftsmen.

Delivering a keynote address, the Member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency, Kwabena Boateng, commended the government for rolling out what he described as a timely intervention to address youth unemployment.

He noted that the most pressing security threat facing the country is not illegal mining 'galamsey' but the rising rate of youth unemployment, which he said poses long-term risks to national stability.

"Government is now fulfilling its flagship promise to bridge the unemployment gap. The youth must also take this programme seriously to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development,” he stated.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, stressed the need to keep politics out of the implementation of the programme to ensure its success.

He assured that the distribution of the equipment across the region would be done fairly and transparently, without political bias.

“I will personally ensure that there is equity in the distribution of the equipment, regardless of political affiliation,” he assured.

Some beneficiaries expressed heartfelt gratitude to President John Mahama for fulfilling his campaign promise to prioritise youth employment.

"Over the years, we have witnessed governments that paid little attention to youth unemployment. This government has come to our aid,” one beneficiary remarked.