The Ghanaian government has taken a significant step towards empowering its youth and tackling unemployment by disbursing over GH¢51 million in grants to beneficiaries of the “You Start” program. At the Biggest Grant and Mentoring Expo organized by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Chief of Staff Madam Akosua Frema Osei Opare urged recipients to utilize these grants to create jobs for the unemployed and alleviate poverty in their communities.
Madam Opare emphasized that the program’s objective is to mitigate unemployment challenges by empowering youth to scale up and employ others. She highlighted that the grants, disbursed across all 16 regions, demonstrate the government’s commitment to job creation through youth empowerment.
The “You Start” initiative, launched under the Ghana CARES program, aims to support young entrepreneurs with soft loans of up to GH¢50,000 to start or expand businesses. This program also provides starter packs and standardized loan packages at concessional rates for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) .
Trade Minister Mr. Kobina Tahir Hammond and GEA CEO Madam Kosi Yankey-Ayeh reassured beneficiaries of the government’s continued commitment to the program, ensuring funds will be made available to support their entrepreneurial endeavors.
By empowering its youth, Ghana aims to build a sustainable entrepreneurial state, addressing the pressing issue of unemployment. With the “You Start” program, the government is taking concrete steps towards achieving this vision and creating a brighter future for its young citizens.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
