About 550 young people from the Upper West Region have officially been inducted into the government’s flagship National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), launched to confront the country’s stubborn youth unemployment challenge with structured training and hands-on skills development.

In a bold pledge on behalf of his colleagues, apprentice Albert Azaasuma declared that the new entrants would “wear this badge of honour with pride and responsibility” and channel their training into building sustainable jobs and a better future for Ghana. He extended appreciation to government, master craftsmen and programme sponsors, assuring them that the investment would not go to waste.

Representing the master craftsmen, Scholastica Wesoamo was emphatic that the initiative would be about empowerment, not exploitation. “We will not abuse or exploit apprentices,” she said. “We will support them to succeed and work closely with the NAP Secretariat and all stakeholders to guarantee quality outcomes.” She urged the apprentices to uphold discipline, dedication and dignity, stressing that the future of Ghana’s workforce rested on their shoulders.

The colourful induction ceremony in Wa attracted regional and national stakeholders who underscored the transformative power of NAP in reshaping technical and vocational education across the country.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Regional Youth Authority Director Madam Vida described the event as “not just a milestone in Ghana’s technical and vocational education transformation agenda, but a signal of the nation’s commitment to place skills and innovation at the centre of development.”

She cautioned that the programme was more than numbers on paper. “These are not just statistics. Without diverse skills training and stronger market linkages, many young people will continue to struggle for sustainable livelihoods,” she said.

Government has set an ambitious target of 10,000 beneficiaries under the first phase of NAP, which spans nine key sectors including agriculture, ICT, fashion and textiles, cosmetology, hospitality, and renewable energy.

Speaking on behalf of the CEO of the National Youth Authority, the Authority’s Gender, Health and Inclusion Officer, Mrs Naomi Birago Opoku-Agyemang, said the true measure of the programme would not be certificates, but the skills mastered, businesses built and communities transformed.

Fohad Agbenyadzi, standing in for the National Coordinator of NAP, disclosed that the programme had already attracted more than 115,000 applications nationwide—evidence of a growing appetite for technical and vocational training among Ghana’s youth. He revealed that beneficiaries would enjoy a comprehensive support package, including free training, monthly stipends, workplace insurance, personal protective equipment and starter kits.

“This investment comes with responsibility,” he stressed, urging apprentices to remain committed and seize the opportunity to change their lives.

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