Stakeholder Engagement on National Apprenticeship Program Held

The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment (MYDE) , in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA), has held a stakeholder engagement session on the National Apprenticeship Program (NAP) to provide insights into the initiative.

Addressing the stakeholders, the National Coordinator of NAP, Mr. Nicodamus NB D Dery, described the program as one of the flagship initiatives of the current government, aimed at reducing youth unemployment nationwide.

He stated that the program is designed to be more practical than theoretical and will include a 40% participation quota for women and 5% for persons with disabilities—an improvement on previous government projects.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, Hon. Osman Ayariga, encouraged beneficiaries to utilize social media to promote their work and enhance visibility.

He emphasized the importance of cooperation among apprentices to increase efficiency and ease in their craft.

He also urged them to be diligent and called on master craft persons to instill discipline and professionalism in their trainees.

In his closing remarks, he described NAP as the greatest social intervention in Ghana’s history, noting that the program will provide competitive allowances to its beneficiaries.

The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, cautioned beneficiaries that guarantors of apprentices who breach the rules and regulations of the program would face possible legal action.

He, however, encouraged master craft persons to provide quality training to their apprentices to ensure they contribute meaningfully to their respective industries.

The Minister highlighted the importance of financial literacy and cooperative law education in the training process.

He concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to the success of the NAP, noting that apprenticeship fees will be covered and working tools will be provided.

The National Apprenticeship Program is designed to address the high unemployment rate among the youth by equipping them with essential artisanal skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and promoting economic empowerment through hands-on training opportunities.