48 Apprentices receive tools under National Apprentice
Programme
The
Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tema, Ebi Bright, has handed over tools
to 48 apprentices under the National Apprentice Programme, reaffirming the
government’s commitment to youth empowerment through skills development, during
the presentation of tools and equipment to trainees under the National
Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) in Tema.
Speaking at a ceremony held
last Monday to hand over tools and equipment to 48 beneficiaries of the
programme in Tema, Ms Bright stressed the importance of investing in young
people through practical skills training.
Items distributed included
manual sewing machines, industrial sewing machines with tables, electrical
toolboxes, safety boots and other trade equipment.
She described Tema as Ghana’s
industrial hub and emphasised the importance of practical skills training in
tackling unemployment among young people.
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Ghana News
“We are here for a practical
reason, to put tools in the hands of young people who have earned them. These
tools are meant to turn training into an enterprise,” she stated.
She said the programme was
providing hope and direction to many unemployed youth and praised its
structure, which combined practical and theoretical learning.
Resources
Ms Bright also commended
President John Dramani Mahama and the Ministry of Youth Development and
Empowerment for supporting the initiative with substantial investment.
She added that the government
had committed significant resources towards skills development, with the programme
already expanding beyond its initial target.
“The first phase targeted
10,000 apprentices across all 261 districts, but we are hearing the number has
increased to over 16,000,” she said.
Employment
The Greater Accra Regional
Coordinator of the National Apprenticeship Programme, Jones Klutse, explained
that the programme, launched in Tamale in 2025, was designed to reduce youth
unemployment through vocational and technical skills training.
Mr Klutse disclosed that the
government was funding apprenticeship training costs, paying allowances to
master craft persons, and providing free certification and startup tools to
beneficiaries upon completion.
Construction
& Power Tools
He further revealed that
apprentices would receive free National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI)
certification upon completion of training, in addition to startup tools and
equipment to help establish their own businesses.
“These tools are your learning equipment.
Once you graduate, the
government will provide you with a brand-new set that you can take home as your
startup capital,” he said.
Mr Klutse emphasised the
importance of skills training to national development, citing countries such as
Germany and Switzerland as examples of nations that transformed their economies
through technical and vocational education.
He urged beneficiaries to take
the programme seriously and avoid selling the equipment provided to them.
Appreciation
Some beneficiaries applauded
the government and expressed optimism that they would make good use of the
opportunity to improve their livelihoods and contribute positively to society.
A master craftsman, Christian
Adjavorn, commended the government for not only distributing tools but also
creating sustainable income opportunities for young people and supporting
family welfare.
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