The programme is under the Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment (YIEDIE), on its “Youth Construction Enterprise Grant”. It is awarded on competitive bases to the youth in Ghana and gives each beneficiary an amount of GH?6,100.00.

The support package would enable the youth, who are between the ages of 17 and 25 years and have innovative and sustainable business ideas in the areas of construction, interior and exterior decoration, electrical services and electrical products retail, painting services, draftsman services, tiling services as well as the retail of general building materials, to start their own businesses.

Mr Abdul-Salam Mohammed, Global Communities Coordinator in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis, who presented a dummy cheque to the beneficiaries, said the beneficiaries had already completed their training in technical apprenticeship, including entrepreneurship component and detailed entrepreneurship training.

He said another group of 10 beneficiaries would receive a similar amount in Accra.

He explained that the YIEDIE programme is a five year project designed to create economic opportunities in Ghana’s construction sector for the economically disadvantaged youth, targeting 23,700 youth with training in technical, life and entrepreneurship skills, leading to employment.

Mr Mohammed explained that the project applies an integrated, youth-led market systems model to train young women and men in the technical and construction skills. It would also help them to start and grow small businesses as well as increase collaboration and support among construction sector stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the sector to thrive.

He advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant to start and expand their businesses, and cautioned them that his outfit would monitor their progress. He urged them to consult Global Communities and YIEDIE for technical assistance if the need arose.

He commended  the Opportunities Industrial centre, Ghana, (OICG), Africa Aurora  Businesses Network (AABN), HFC-Boafo Microfinance services Ltd (HFC-Boafo) and Artisanal Association of Ghana (AAG) for their contributions towards the success of the programme. Madam Doreen Davies, a representative from HFC Boafo, urged the beneficiaries to develop the culture of saving their money at the bank instead of leaving it in their shops and under their beds.

She asked them to be customer/client friendly to enable them to attract customers and also endeavour to find time to take up refresher courses to improve on their businesses.Mr Mahama Abu, the Shama District Planning officer, who presided, commended Global communities and YIEDIE for coming up with the golden opportunity for the youth in the region, saying that, the initiative would create jobs for the teaming unemployed youth.

He asked the beneficiaries to be innovative and come up with viable and sustainable business plans to enable them to stay in business and create jobs for others.Mr Mahama asked them to put into practice the training they had received such as proper book and records keeping, customer/client care and strategic market plans.

Mr Christian Numanyo, a beneficiary, on behalf of the other beneficiaries, thanked Global Communities and YIEDIE for the gesture and pledged that they would use the money for its intended purpose.