Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr Eric Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu North, has launched the Ketu North Skills and Apprenticeship Programme, a constituency-based empowerment initiative aimed at equipping young people with employable skills through fully funded apprenticeships.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Agbana said the programme was designed to support young men and women who aspired to learn a trade and become self-reliant but were constrained by the financial demands of apprenticeship training.
He said the initiative was inspired by the vision of President John Dramani Mahama under the National Apprenticeship Programme and tailored to address the specific needs of the Ketu North Constituency.
“Today, we have officially launched this programme with 207 beneficiaries drawn from across Ketu North. These are young men and women who are ready to learn a trade and build a future for themselves,” the MP said.
Mr Agbana explained that although the constituency has four administrative zones, the programme was being implemented in two batches due to the large number of applicants.
The first batch covers the Dzodze and Penyi zones, while the second batch, involving the Weta and Afife zones, would commence within the next month.
He disclosed that the long-term objective of the programme was to train at least 500 young people annually, equipping them with practical skills to attain economic independence and contribute meaningfully to local development.
As part of the support package, the MP said his office was paying the full apprenticeship agreement fees, covering graduation costs, and providing tools and equipment required for training.
Some beneficiaries received sewing machines, toolboxes, and other working tools at the launch.
In addition, each of the 207 beneficiaries received a cash incentive to assist them in settling into their respective workplaces and purchasing basic requirements, including uniforms and starter materials.
“This programme is targeted at the needy, school dropouts, single parents and other vulnerable youth. We want to build a constituency that truly cares for everyone,” Mr Agbana said.
He recalled that in the previous year, he had launched a scholarship scheme that supported more than 420 tertiary students, stressing that informal and technical education was as important as formal education.
Mr Agbana assured that the programme would be sustainable, noting that extensive planning, policy design and negotiations had been undertaken with master craftsmen and women prior to its launch.
“This is not a one-off programme or a political slogan. It is guided by a policy framework and designed to last beyond 2026. We engaged master craftsmen and women ahead of time to ensure commitment and continuity,” he stated.
He further explained that unlike the national apprenticeship programme, where master craftsmen select trainees, beneficiaries under the Ketu North programme were selected first and allowed to choose their preferred trades and trainers within their communities.
This approach, he said, reduced travel challenges and ensured proximity between trainees and training centres.
Mr Agbana added that although the constituency programme does not provide monthly stipends like the national model, beneficiaries had willingly committed to the training in appreciation of the comprehensive support package.
He acknowledged the technical support from the National Youth Authority (NYA), led by Mr Osman Ayariga, including plans to provide equipment support to selected trainees after a three-month assessment period.
The MP appealed to master craftsmen and women to treat the apprentices as their own children and to impart not only technical skills, but also discipline, values and strong work ethics.
Rev. Martin Amenaki, Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu North, commended the MP and his wife for the initiative, describing it as a practical strategy to reduce unemployment and crime in the constituency.
He said the shared vision of the MP and President John Dramani Mahama was to ensure that every young person was gainfully engaged through formal employment, skills training, entrepreneurship or agriculture.
Rev. Amenaki noted that while the President’s Free Apprenticeship Programme was nationwide, the MP’s intervention had significantly expanded opportunities for Ketu North youth, with more than 500 apprentices expected to benefit in the municipality this year.
He urged beneficiaries to take their training seriously, observing that skilled artisans such as tailors, welders and carpenters were increasingly earning more than some salaried workers.
Mr Daniel Hamanu, Volta Regional Coordinator of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), also praised the MP for the initiative, saying it complemented government efforts to equip young people with sustainable livelihoods.
He said the scale of the intervention meant that, over time, virtually every youth in Ketu North would have a skill to rely on.
Master craftsmen and women selected to train the apprentices welcomed the initiative and pledged to provide quality training while instilling discipline and good morals in the trainees.
They urged the apprentices to be obedient, hardworking and respectful.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the MP and his wife for financial and material support and pledged to conduct themselves responsibly and work diligently to achieve both their personal goals and the broader vision of the programme.
The event was attended by assembly members from the Dzodze and Penyi zones, National Democratic Congress (NDC) ward coordinators, constituency executives, and other stakeholders.
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