The “Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment (Yiedie)” is being implemented in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, Youth Enterprise Synergy, Opportunities Industrialization Centre Ghana, Artisans Association of Ghana, African Aurora Business Network and HFC-Boafo.

Mr. George Ebo Wilson, Program Coordinator, Global Communities, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that about 23,700 young people, aged between the 17 and 24, were going to benefit.

They would be trained in masonry, carpentry, metal fabrication, interior decoration, electrical works, tiling, steel bending, draftsmanship and entrepreneurship. The project, which was officially launched at Esreso in the Bosomtwe District, is targeting people living on less than GH?9.00, a day, in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi/Takoradi, Tema and Ashiaman.

 The project would last for five years and it is a response to the growing unemployment among the nation’s youth. Mr. Wilson said it would afford the unemployed the opportunity to create jobs for themselves and others.

 He indicated that the beneficiaries would receive financial literacy education, counselling and access to business development services. He urged the people, particularly young women, to take advantage of it to lift themselves out of poverty. The project, has meanwhile, being hailed by many as a welcomed intervention - a right step.

Nana Adu Acheampong Osei Kuffour III, Feyiase Akwamuhene, said it could not have come at a better time.