President John Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has launched the Adwumawura Programme Initiative, a flagship programme designed to create jobs and empower youth across the country.
In his maiden State of the Nation Address, President Mahama announced the rollout of the “Adwumawura Programme, an initiative designed to support young businesses and entrepreneurs across Ghana.”
The Adwumawura Programme aims to create, track, and monitor young businesses annually, with a special focus on the youth. This programme is a fulfilment of his campaign promise to prioritise youth empowerment and job creation.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, President Mahama emphasised that the Adwumawura Programme would not be a mere fanfare, but a fully-funded initiative with adequate allocation by the Ministry of Finance in the 2025 budget.
President Mahama disclosed that the programme is committed to stimulating youth employment through a nationwide selection to empower youth employment initiative programmes. The programme aims to provide access to funding, coaching, and mentorship to young entrepreneurs, enabling them to grow their businesses and create jobs.
“The Adwumawura Programme is not a mere policy initiative but a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential in the Ghanaian youth. It is our commitment to nurturing the ambitions and translating their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress.
“Adwumawura Programme seeks to stimulate youth employment entrepreneurship and innovation across key strategic sectors of our economy. Through a nationwide selection process, we will incubate its new businesses and accelerate existing ones,” he added.
According to him, about 10,000 youth would be targeted every year for four years, with a focus on providing comprehensive business advisory services to support them.
The Adwumawura Programme is being implemented in partnership with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), which would provide machines and equipment for businesses, market access facilitation, and other forms of support.
The President noted that a neutral body would be used to select businesses, with some starting this year and others the following year, based on their potential for creation.
He disclosed, “the selection process for the programme would be inclusive, with opportunities for youth in vocational schools, tertiary institutions, and senior high schools,” stressing that about 60% of the beneficiaries would be drawn from unemployed youth, women, the disabled, and youth from rural areas, to help contribute meaningfully to global youth employment indicators.
The President urged interested youth to log onto the programme’s platform to apply and create jobs, assuring that their businesses would be supported. He also announced that there would be trade expeditions for all companies supported by the programme to showcase their products, as part of efforts to address inclusivity, facilitate access to funding, and partner with markets.
President Mahama called on traditional leaders and civil society organisations (CSOs) to partner with the government to invest in the youth through the Adwumawura Programme. He expressed his expectation that the programme would lead to an increase in job creation, employment, and economic growth, ultimately building a better Ghana.
The launch of the Adwumawura Programme Initiative marks a significant step towards addressing youth unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship in Ghana. With its focus on inclusivity, access to funding, and comprehensive business advisory services, the programme has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people across the country.
In its first phase, the top 2,000 implementable business proposals will receive comprehensive support, including:
Business Development Training: Equipping young entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in business.
Mentorship: Pairing young entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders and mentors.
Access to Start-up Capital: Providing financial support to help young entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into reality.
Marketing and Networking: Offering platforms for young entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, and connect with potential customers and partners.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi