In a significant step towards formalizing skills training and tackling youth unemployment, the Upper East Region has officially inducted 240 newly certified Master Craftspersons and matriculated 1,200 apprentices into the National Apprenticeship Programme.
The ceremony, held at the Jubilee Park in Bolgatanga on Saturday, August 30, 2025, was presided over by the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Akamugri Donatus Atanga.
In his address, the Minister stated that the programme is a deliberate government policy to bridge the gap between education and industry.
“It is not just about training but building confidence, creating sustainable jobs and reducing youth unemployment among the youth,” he said, emphasizing its role in preparing the youth to add value to key sectors of the economy from agro-processing to renewable energy.
Hon. Atanga highlighted that the initiative aligns with the national strategy of repositioning technical and vocational education as the heartbeat of national development. He noted that for the first time in the country’s history, a ministry has been created specifically for youth development and empowerment, signalling the government’s deep commitment to the cause.
Addressing the 1,200 new apprentices, the Minister urged them to see skills acquisition as a strategic pathway to success. “The skills you are about to acquire… are keys to your independence, dignity and prosperity,” he said, calling for discipline and commitment from the trainees.
To the 240 Master Craftspersons who underwent a three-day intensive training, the Minister entrusted them with a noble duty. “As mentors, trainers, and role models, you are entrusted with the responsibility to pass on not only technical expertise but also discipline, integrity and professionalism to these apprentices,” he stated, saluting them for their sense of patriotism.
The Regional Minister also called on private sector partners to leverage the talents being nurtured by the programme to help strengthen Ghana’s artisanal sector and build competitive industries.
He concluded by officially inducting the Master Craftspersons and matriculating the apprentices, expressing hope that the initiative would serve as a “shining beacon of hope for generations to come.”
The event was attended by members of the Council of State, the President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and officials from the National Youth Authority.
