Freddie Blay speaking to the media
The Board Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Freddie Blay, has stated that artisanal skills are crucial in driving economic growth of a country.
He therefore called on the youth to take advantage of the GNPC’s Skilled Artisan Programme to acquire the needed skill to venture into entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the GNPC’s Skilled Artisan Programme in Accra, Mr. Blay encouraged young people to follow their passion as they forge their own route to become contributors to Ghana’s growth.
About 210 youth drawn from various Metropolitan, Municipalities, and Districts in the Greater Accra Region successfully graduated from the Skilled Artisan Programme.
The programme, which was organized in conjunction with the Aseda Foundation, is in line with the government’s commitment and goal of fighting poverty and youth unemployment.
The beneficiaries received training in an array of skills, including steel bending, spraying, interior and exterior decoration, bead making, makeup artistry, motor vehicle mechanics, dressmaking, hairdressing, tailoring, arc welding, gas welding, shoemaking, bakery, cookery, masonry, and pastry making.
To help the graduates embark on their entrepreneurial journey, the graduates were given a start-up package of tools.
Executive Director of GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Kwesi Eduah, in a speech, underscored the Corporation’s commitment in helping to grow the informal sector, create jobs and alleviate poverty.
He was pleased with the foundation’s commitment to enhancing artisanal studies by providing students with the tools they need to start their businesses.
“GNPC’s steadfast commitment to empowering our people is demonstrated by this graduation ceremony, which is more than just the end of training programs,” Eduah said.
“We sincerely believe that empowering and upholding Ghanaians is a fundamental goal of our business, and we make sure they have the resources and tools necessary to thrive in an ever-changing economic landscape,” he added.
According to him, plans are underway to expand the scheme to all 16 regions of the country to benefit thousands of Ghanaians nationally.
The Chairman of the ceremony, Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, praised the GNPC Foundation for expanding its programmes to the Greater Accra Region.
He stated that the program will not only improve people’s livelihoods, but will also significantly reduce unemployment and grow entrepreneurs in the country.
Diana Adjei, CEO of Aseda Foundation, also applauded GNPC for its continuous partnership with her organisation to improve lives and make dreams of Ghanaian youth reality.
By Ernest Kofi Adu