Fanteakwa DCE urges youth to go into apprenticeship…as he distributes startup kits to apprentice graduates

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Fanteakwa District Assembly, Mr. Abass Fuseini Sbaabe, has reiterated on the need for the Ghanaian youth to cultivate the interest of undertaking apprenticeship, rather than chasing non-existent white-collar jobs in the so-called big cities.

According to him, it was saddening to see the teeming unemployed youth migrating to the big cities, while they could easily undertake an apprenticeship to improve their living standards.

Like the old adage which says, 'to teach a child how to chew fish, teach him or her how to fish rather than to fish for him,' the eloquent young DCE said' adding that it would be advantageous to the teeming unemployed youth when they go into apprenticeship, since they could depend on it at any time, without the fear of being sacked.

He made the observation during the distribution of startup kits to 30 apprentice graduates at Ahomahomasu, a farming community within the district, last Wednesday.

The programme was the first of its kind and the unemployed youth who learnt various trades in the district, have benefited under the project. The beneficiaries underwent two and half years training in various artisan trades, including hairdressing, dressmaking, auto electrical and radio and television repairs, among others.

The tools, which were provided by the Rural Enterprises Project (REP), in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), were distributed to the beneficiaries to start their own business in order to live meaningful lives.

Mr. Sbaabe continued that the contributions of the REP and collaborators towards the solution of unemployment in the district and country at large, was well appreciated, since the government alone could not shoulder all developmental projects.

According to him, the Assembly attaches special importance to the activities of the REP, and would not relent in its efforts towards assisting it operate effectively. “It is in this direction that the assembly committed resources to the provision of facilities such as accommodation, furniture, equipment and staff for the establishment of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) in the district, to enhance the implementation of the project,” he added.

The Fanteakwa DCE urged the beneficiaries of the intervention, to eschew laziness and work hard to reduce poverty in the district, which would demonstrate a reciprocal gesture to the donors.

Giving the background history of the REP, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Kwasi Attah-Antwi, said the project was part of the government's development programme to reduce poverty in the rural areas, through increased self-and-wage employment, productivity and income.

According to him, the project seeks to achieve this objective through four main inter-linked components, namely business development service, technology promotion and support to apprentices training, rural financial services and support to micro enterprises, including local business associations.

The project, which was started in 1995 in only two pilot districts, is now operational in 66, made up of 53 new participating, and 13 old districts nationwide. Mr. Attah-Antwi continued that since the inception of the programme, over 163 people, including 89,000 females, representing 55 percent, with various project services, and over ¢13.8 billion disbursed as credit by participating banks.

Notwithstanding the immense achievements of the programme, the Project Coordinator was quick to recount some challenges that have faced the project in recent times.

Uncovering some of the problems, Mr. Attah-Antwi disclosed that the unavailability of startup capital for graduate-apprentices to establish their own business had been a major setback for the programme.

He also intimated the lackadaisical attitude of some banks and financial institutions to lend or give out loans to graduate-apprentices, because they were considered to be high-risk borrowers.