Dalun: A total of 60 youth in the northern part of the country have undergone training on plaster paneling and agro-processing, equipping them with self-employable skills to improve their livelihoods.
According to Ghana News Agency, the six-month training included six weeks of intensive instruction, four weeks of apprenticeship with master craftsmen, one week of entrepreneurship training, and additional support training packages. This initiative is part of the project to strengthen social cohesion in strategic cross-border areas (PARCS), funded by the French Development Agency and implemented by Acting for Life, a French organization, along with its Ghanaian partners, the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships.
The PARCS project, launched in December 2022, aims to enhance social cohesion in strategic cross-border territories and support inclusive socio-economic development. Mr. Abdul-Hafiz Yussif, Programme Officer of GDCA, emphasized during the graduation ceremony at Dalun in the Kumbungu District the significance of technical and vocational education in promoting industrialization and national development.
The 60 trainees, who formed the fourth cohort of beneficiaries under the project, received certificates of completion from the Ghana TVET Service and starter kits to assist them in their work. This graduation marks the training of a total of 240 beneficiaries in areas such as organic poultry production, organic vegetable production, tiling, and plumbing.
Mr. Abdul-Hafiz highlighted the importance of professional integration for the beneficiaries, noting that they have been introduced to TVET authorities and industry players to facilitate their entry into the workforce. He remarked, "The graduation is just the beginning of the training; there will be monthly follow-ups to assess their operations."
Madam Humaimatu Abdul-Wahab from the Ghana TVET Service, Northern Regional Office, praised GDCA and its partners for the project's role in addressing youth unemployment in the country. She urged the graduates to approach their work with dedication and use social media to market their skills.
Mr. Kofi Amadu Sheini, Chereponi District Chief Executive, commended the project for equipping the youth with in-demand skills and assured them of the Assembly's support in utilizing their newly acquired skills.
Dalun-Lana Tapha Mahamadu (II), Chief of Dalun, represented at the graduation ceremony, encouraged the beneficiaries to apply their skills diligently to improve their livelihoods.
The trainees expressed gratitude to GDCA and its partners for providing them with valuable skills. Iddrisu Ahmed, a beneficiary from the Karaga District, stated, "After completing SHS, I was handicapped. Every time, I was in the house doing nothing. Then, I was given this opportunity to learn plaster paneling. I am very much grateful for this opportunity, which will transform my life."
Similarly, Ms. Zenabu Ayaaba from Bawku West District, who was trained in agro-processing, shared her newfound skills in processing various foods and oils, expressing confidence in her ability to contribute to her community's development.