BAC registers youth for entrepreneurship training

The Sekyere East District Directorate of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has begun the registration of the youth in the area for entrepreneurship and financial literacy training programme.

The training, which is under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employable Programme (YEEP) of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) is to help provide employable skills in entrepreneurship and business management to the youth.

Mr Akwasi Owusu, District Manager, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at the beginning of the registration exercise at Effiduase that, the programme was being supported by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).

He said the youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years, who were mostly returnees, potential migrants and those already into Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSSMEs) had been targeted to benefit from the training programme.

The aim is to help to curtail illegal migrations, save lives and help the youth to contribute to the nation building process.

Mr Owusu said the registration exercise which started on Wednesday with a sensitisation and awareness creation activities, would end on Friday.

He said the initiative was being implemented in three regions--Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo.

The Sekyere East, Sekyere Kumawu, Sekyere South, Sekyere Afram Plains, Sekyere Central, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Ejisu, Juaben, Asante Akim South and Asante Akim Central districts were benefiting from the programme in the Ashanti region.

Mr Owusu said the Kumawu zone, which consisted of Sekyere East, Sekyere Kumawu and Sekyere Afram Plains was expected to register 450 youth to benefit from the programme.

He said a minimum of Junior High School Certificate was what was required for an individual to register and participate in the training, which would commence on February 25, this year.

Mr Owusu said after the training process, some of the trainees would be selected and supported either in cash or kind, to establish and start their own businesses.

The goal, he said was to help to alleviate poverty, enhance community prosperity and aid in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Emmanuel Adjei Baafi, the Presiding Member for the Assembly commended the NBSSI and GIZ for the initiative, saying it would serve as a lifelong relief for the people with respect to poverty and unemployment.

Mr. Adu Abrefa Charles, a person with disability from the Ntunkumso community, who went through the registration process successfully commended the BAC for the initiative and said his plan was to establish a local pharmaceutical shop in his community, adding that he had already secured a license for such operation.