Kofi Ofosu Nkansah
As part efforts to move Kayayei (head potters) from the major streets of the country and empower them with skills to become their own bosses, Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, as stated that 5000 Kayayei are expected to be trained and graduated from the Kayayei Empowerment Programme by the end of the year.
The programme is an initiative of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, aimed at equipping young women with the skills and resources needed to overcome poverty and become economically independent.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the second cohort where 600 young women successfully graduated from the Programme, Mr. Ofosu Nkansah noted that the graduates were trained in six specialised areas including, soap and detergent making, baking, beads and jewelry, décor, pedicure and manicure, and makeup artistry.
Each graduate received a certificate and a starter pack to help them start their own businesses.
Mr. Ofosu Nkansah commended and encouraged the graduates to use their new skills to shape their destiny and inspire others.
The trainees were housed in the  Ashiaman and Madina hostels, with each hostel taking 300 at a time. In all 1,200 Kayayie had been trained from both the first and second cohorts.
They also received a stipend of GH¢1,000 to start their businesses.
He indicated that plans are in place to expand the training to Techiman and Kumasi after the commissioning of the respectively hostels to train other Kayayei in the two cities.
Mr. Ofosu Nkansah stressed that the training programmes will be extended to other districts in the country where they will engage the youth to identify relevant skill areas for their local economy.
“So for the hundreds and thousands of youth out there who have been asking about getting similar opportunities, the good news is that today, through His Excellency the Vice President’s initiative, we are extending the Kayayei Empowerment Programme to all the districts of the country,” he stated.
In terms of monitoring, Mr. Ofosu Nkansah emphasised that the evaluation team would go to the field to visit trainees.
The graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone in the programme’s effort to empower young women in the country.
With the skills and knowledge acquired, the 600 graduates are now better equipped to succeed in their chosen fields and make a positive impact in their communities.
By Daniel Bampoe