Ho NYA Regional Director praises govt for National Apprenticeship Programme

The Ho Municipal Director of National Youth Authority Mr. Charles Gomenu, has expressed his profound gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for introducing National Apprentiship Programme (NAP) an initiative aimed at empowering the youth with employable skills.

Mr. Gomenu made the remarks in an interview during the Artisan Association of Ghana town hall meeting, held on March 7 in Ho, where artisans and stakeholders gathered to discuss skills development and job creation.

According to him, the President initiated measures last year to test the effectiveness of the programme by enrolling about 10,000 young people nationwide. He explained that the initial enrollment served as a pilot phase to assess how well the programme could help address youth unemployment through skills training.

Speaking further, Mr. Gomenu disclosed that in Ho, about 30 master craftsmen and madams qualified to participate in the programme. Out of this number, 11 were trained through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. Each master or madam was assigned between five and seven apprentices, bringing the total number of apprentices enrolled in the municipality to more than 70.

He also revealed that government intends to expand the programme to accommodate about 100,000 participants this year, significantly increasing the number of beneficiaries compared to the previous year.

Mr. Gomenu explained that the enrollment process is simple. Interested persons only need to visit the National Youth Authority (NYA) office with their Ghana Card, collect an application form, and fill in their personal information so their details can be captured into the system.

However, he emphasized that the programme is designed for serious and willing participants, not individuals seeking to take advantage of the system. He noted that the government plans to provide machines and working tools to trainees who successfully complete the apprenticeship, which is why authorities carefully screen applicants.

He added that the initiative is particularly intended to support young people whose parents cannot afford to provide them with tools or equipment required to learn a trade, such as sewing machines and other essentials.

Under the programme, trainees will undergo skills training and later sit for examinations conducted by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) service. Those who pass the examination will be provided with machines and tools to help them start and grow their own businesses.

Mr. Gomenu further clarified that former apprentices will not automatically benefit from the programme, meaning those interested must enroll in the new apprenticeship scheme to qualify.

He concluded by noting that formal education is not for everyone, and therefore skills training remains an important pathway for employment. According to him, during recruitment exercises, security agencies also consider trade professionals such as dressmakers, carpenters, and other artisans. With a Junior High School certificate and a TVET certificate, such individuals may qualify for recruitment into the security services.