First Cohort of MiDA’s Ghana Power Compact internship programme exit

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has urged the exiting first cohort of interns of the Ghana Power Compact internship programme to utilise the six-month training they have received to enrich their job market.

“My advice to you as you end your internship is to utilize the training you have received on personal grooming, leadership skills, presentation skills, emotional intelligence, teambuilding and in Conflict Management, wherever you may find yourselves after MiDA.

“The world of work today requires not only talents with the requisite academic training but also relies on the pool of networks one can draw to facilitate the accomplishment of organizational tasks and goals.

“My wish for you is to continue to follow your dreams, be determined, stay focused in life and never give up. This short stay in MiDA has the potential to open doors to greatest opportunities”, Mr Eson-Benjamin told the four young people as they get set to enter the job market.

The four are; Ms Khadijatu Iddrisu, 29 years and currently pursuing a Master of Arts in International Affairs at the University of Ghana and possessing a Bachelor of Technology in Procurement Management from the Koforidua University of Technology, and Mr Esmond Mahama Anarigede, 28 year old qualified Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.

The others are; Mr Derrick Amanor Narkah, 24 year old, who has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Ms Dzifa Adadevoh, a 33 year old, who holds a Masters in International Commercial Law from the University of Leicester and a Bachelor of Art in Law (LLB) from the Southampton University.

The four were selected to undergo the internship that forms part of the Africa’s Promise Initiative in Ghana, under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) programme, aimed at building the technical and leadership skills of African Youth and to expand their horizon.

Speaking at a short ceremony held by MiDA to mark the end of the six-months internship opportunity for the young people, Mr Eson-Benjamin expressed the hope that the interns were able to capitalize on every opportunity to learn from their colleagues, develop new skill sets and forged meaningful connections with MiDA staff and all other stakeholders they came into contact within the course of their internship.

He was also hopeful that the interns were leaving MiDA, “a lot richer in skills, a little more experienced and have expanded your professional networks, as a result of your time with MiDA”.

He said the US Government, working through the MCC, believes in Africa’s future and through the Programme had laid the foundation for a better Africa, by investing in the Continent’s youth and giving them unique opportunities for their career growth.

Mr Kenneth James Miller, Resident Country Director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation congratulated the four young people for taking advantage of the programme to gain some important first-hand experience in their various fields of endeavour.

He again, commended MiDA, for leading Ghana to roll out the Initiative that is geared towards building capacities of African youth.

Mr Miller said he was hopeful that the four, have had great experiences in legal, procurement and finance issues and urged them to keep pushing and find new opportunities that would make them useful in their communities and in Ghana in general.

Ms Dzifa Adadevoh, said the six months experience at MiDA had taught them humility, teamwork and ethics, which would help in their various professions.

MiDA, in May this year, rolled out the Initiative, announced in 2016 by the US Government, which made Ghana the first Country, out of the seven MCC Africa implementing countries, to implement the initiative that is expected to end in 2021.

Seven countries, namely Ghana, Benin, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Niger and Zambia have been selected to implement the MCC being sponsored by the US Government of which the African countries have their share of financial commitments.