Organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) collaborating with the UNDP, the Youth
Entrepreneurship Training Program for AfCFTA Opportunities aims to advance hundreds of young entrepreneurs unto the arena of international trade, notably the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The programme benefited 400 youth nationwide endearing at various economic sectors, and a total of 40 from the Agortime Ziope and the Adaklu Districts were trained in the Volta Region.
Young people in agribusiness, the garment and fashion industry made most beneficiaries, and the intense training covered enterprise development and growth sustainability.

Trainees were introduced to the emerging the continental free trade regime and received guidance on the various processes including registration modules.

Mr Ekow Eshun, the Director of Human Resource at the National Youth Authority, toured training centers in the Region, and commended the spirit of enterprise among the youth.
He said the Government recognised the prospects of young entrepreneurs for the sustainability of the local-driven economy, and therefore continued to pursue programs and initiatives for their propulsion.
"NYA recognises the need to empower young people as part of national development. Encouraging young people to know about enterprise building will help create jobs and enhance the economy," he said.

The Director said the training would address gaps with business innovation among SMEs and stated that beneficiaries from across the country testified to the impact.
He charged the trainees to seek most of the program, and work to turnaround their enterprises.

"We believe that this training has equipped you to get the knowledge. We are thinking that in the face of the AfCFTA, young people will expand their thinking and take advantage of opportunities in other African countries and beyond."

Mr Yao Semorde, the Volta Regional Director of the NYA, said the Region was very glad for the opportunity to benefit from the program, which he said was a way of ensuring young entrepreneurs acquired the needed mindset shift.

He said youth in the Region had the potential to create jobs and would require the necessary knowledge to "develop fully and expand employable avenues."

"Young people should be able to create avenues for jobs," he said, adding that farming and agriculture, and the dressmaking industries remained major avenues.

Mr Josiah Eyison, Business Development Manager who facilitated the training, said trainees received skills in branding, image and publicity management, and also some cultural outlooks for the world of business were addressed.
He said the absence of business registration affected access to AfCFTA opportunities for young entrepreneurs, and that the training sought to prepare beneficiaries to meet the requirements.

Mr. Eyison also commended the acumen of youth in the Region for entrepreneurship and said they should be able to reap the essence of continental free trade.
"Their tenacity and passion are very impressive. They are ready to face the world, and they just need some training," he told the Ghana News Agency.
Beneficiaries shared their experience at the training, and said such avenues should be regularly made available.