The dignitaries and beneficiaries
The Government of Ghana through the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has disbursed GH¢51,866,369.31 million to over 4,173 youth in the 16 regions across country under the YouStart Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP).
The YouStart GJSP, which is designed to provide young entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, resources, and mentorship to succeed, has already trained 50,898 beneficiaries nationwide, including 37,383 females and 13,505 males.
Under the programme funded by the World Bank, three levels of entrepreneurship training has so far been offered at the basic, intermediate, and advanced level to the youth and adults in various parts of the country, to scale up their businesses or to start new ones.
The 16 regions that will receive the second phase of the grant for 2024 are as follows: Greater Accra Region, GH¢8,695,802.08; Central, GH¢6,409,205.18; Eastern, GH¢6,782,639.14; North East, GH¢1,307,603.00; Ashanti, GH¢7,580,795.52; Upper East, GH¢2,337,600.28; Savannah, GH¢1,082,532.00; Northern, GH¢4,327,532.00; Western, GH¢2,379,872.00.
Others include Ahafo Region, GH¢773,257.00; Upper West, GH¢1,357,058.00; Oti, GH¢867,186.00; Volta, GH¢1,853,271.11; Bono, GH¢2,266,819.00; Western North, GH¢1,800,208.00 and Bono East, GH¢2,044,989.00.
Speaking at the second edition of the grant and mentoring expo to disburse the grant to beneficiaries yesterday in Accra, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, said government with the support of the Ghana Enterprises Agency is dismantling barriers that prevented young people from realising their full potential.
She said government was not only distributing the grant to the youth, but also providing financial support, investing in dreams, and encouraging the next generation of Ghanaian business leaders to contribute to the development of the country.
Madam Osei-Opare also commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Ministry of Finance, and the World Bank for their support and guidance.
She said the beneficiaries have not only acquired essential knowledge, tools and expertise that will help them cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, but have also been entrusted with the resources to transform not only their lives, but also positively impact those around them.
“We are cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. This approach ensures that beneficiaries are not mere recipients of funding, but active participants in shaping our nation’s economic future that is transforming their knowledge into healthy competition, innovation and support,” Madam Osei-Opare stated.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, in her address said the initiative served as a testament to the government’s belief in the power of the youth to transform the country, which represents a commitment to the future of the country built upon the dreams and determination of young entrepreneurs.
She also reiterated government’s commitment under the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to continue supporting the youth by giving them training, providing technical assistance, developing their capacities, as well as providing them funding to start their businesses.
Mrs. Yankey further advised the beneficiaries to utilise the funds for its intended purpose given the support that has so far been committed into developing the knowledge and skills of the youth by the NPP and other partners, including the World Bank.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah
