George Opare-Addo and Osman A. Ayariga (in suit)
The government has unveiled a number of skills development, employment and entrepreneurship programmes aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with the skills and opportunities needed to secure sustainable livelihoods.
The programmes include an expanded National Apprenticeship Programme, the Labour Exchange Programme, the Domestic Care Economy initiative and the Graduates in Corporate Support (GRiCS) programme.
The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, announced the initiatives yesterday when he opened the 2026 National Youth Conference at the Great Hall of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
The conference, organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, forms part of activities marking the 2026 National Youth Month celebration.
It is being held on the theme, “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age.”
The conference brought together government officials, traditional and religious leaders, academics, development partners, youth leaders and young people from across the country to deliberate on the role of the youth in Ghana’s development.
Skills Matching
Mr. Opare-Addo said the government was focused on ensuring that skills acquired by young people were relevant to the demands of the labour market.
He explained that the National Apprenticeship Programme was designed following consultations with labour unions, research and an assessment of skills gaps in the economy.
He said the programme was also using the master-apprentice system, whereby young people were attached to experienced practitioners in their communities to facilitate their transition into employment.
Jobs Abroad
The Minister said the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) was also creating employment opportunities for young people through the Labour Exchange Programme.
The initiative, he said, would facilitate the movement of skilled Ghanaian workers to countries where their skills were needed.
60% Retention
The Minister also announced plans to strengthen the transition from school to work through the National Service Authority.
He said the government was developing the Graduates in Corporate Support (GRiCS) programme to provide National Service personnel with extended employment opportunities after completing their mandatory service.
According to him, data showed that National Service personnel who worked with government institutions could spend between four and 10 years before securing employment, while those who served in the private sector spent between one and three years.
Mr. Opare-Addo said private sector organisations participating in the GRiCS programme would be expected to retain at least 60 per cent of National Service personnel.
Entrepreneurship
The Minister said the government was also supporting young entrepreneurs through the ‘Adwumawura’ programme, which provides training, incubation and funding to enable young people to establish and grow businesses.
He said government would assist beneficiaries with business registration to ensure that their enterprises were properly established.
Mr. Opare-Addo also mentioned the SEEK (Student Enterprise and Innovation Development) programme, which supports tertiary students with innovative ideas and business plans.
Govt Not Alone
Mr. Opare-Addo stressed that government could not solve the youth unemployment challenge alone.
He called for the active participation of the private sector, financial institutions, universities and other stakeholders in creating jobs and expanding opportunities for young people.
Youth Are Not Problem
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, said the conference was designed primarily for the youth and was intended to give them a platform to participate in discussions about their future.
He urged young people to use digital technology not only to consume content but also to create businesses, develop innovative solutions and contribute to national development.
He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be described as a problem to Ghana, saying they were instead an important force for national transformation.
He said the NYA would continue working with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector and youth organisations to expand opportunities for young people.
KNUST VC
The Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Christian Agyare, said the theme of the conference was timely, particularly in an era of artificial intelligence, social media and digital enterprise.
He urged young people to embrace technology while maintaining values such as hard work, integrity, patriotism and service.
“Skills without integrity can be misused, and knowledge without character can become destructive,” he cautioned.
Prof. Agyare also urged the youth to reject the “get-rich-quick” mentality and build their success through hard work, honesty, creativity and perseverance.
He assured the conference of KNUST’s support and expressed the hope that the deliberations would produce practical outcomes for young people across the country.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi