The government’s renewed push to empower young entrepreneurs has received a major boost as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) concludes the first phase of its nationwide training under the Adwumawura Youth Empowerment initiative.
Both the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, and the CEO of NEIP, Eric Adjei Esq, have expressed strong confidence in the programme’s ability to transform the lives of young people and strengthen the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
This week, the Minister and the NEIP CEO are touring some training hubs, including the Adwumawura centres, to assess the progress of the five-week entrepreneurship training currently being undertaken by the first batch of participants.
NEIP CEO Eric Adjei revealed that interest in the programme has been overwhelming, with over 120,000 youth applying when the portal opened months ago. From this number, 10,000 applicants were shortlisted to undergo the first round of intensive capacity building, which ends this Friday.
“It wasn’t an easy journey, but so far so good,” Mr. Adjei noted. “This programme has reached an important stage, and its success will be highly beneficial to this country.”
He emphasised that the initiative is not only about training but also about preparing beneficiaries for upcoming funding opportunities. President John Dramani Mahama earlier announced financial support for 2,000 participants, with additional assistance expected from development partners.
The CEO further disclosed ongoing collaborations with institutions, including the Apsa Bank, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to support youth interested in agribusiness, particularly poultry.
A total of 120 training hubs are currently being used nationwide, with over 20 located in Greater Accra due to high demand.
At the Adwumawura centres, Minister George Oparr-Adoo commended both instructors and participants for their dedication.
“The President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, is proud of you,” he said. “You should be proud to be the first batch of Adwumawura beneficiaries. Go out there, shine, and help mentor others.”
He stressed that the training is designed to equip the youth with the mindset, knowledge, and skills needed to build sustainable businesses.
“We all may have business ideas, but if you don’t know how to put your business together, it will not stand,” he reminded the trainees.
The Minister further revealed that over 90,000 young people will have the chance to pitch their ideas in the coming stages of the programme. He encouraged the trainees to believe in their dreams and take advantage of the support structures available.
With the training closing this week, NEIP will announce details of the grant component next week. An independent committee featuring representative from Absa Bank, the University of Ghana, the British Council, and the Ghana Enterprise Agency has been constituted to ensure a transparent selection of beneficiaries.
The Minister expressed optimism that the Adwumawura programme will produce a new wave of young entrepreneurs capable of helping to grow the economy and inspire others.
The government says it remains committed to creating an enabling environment for youth-led innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
