A total of 50 persons in the Assin North District of the Central Region have benefitted from the National Apprentice Program (NAP) to enable them acquire skills to be self-employed and sufficient.

The program is being piloted, pending full scale implementation, and described it as strategic initiative by the government to reduce unemployment in the country.

Mr Emmanuel Oteng Perkoh, Acting Coordinator of NAP, noted that Ghana’s youth unemployment, pegged at 12.6 percent, had 29 percent of young people not engaged in any form of education, employment or training.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Mr Perkoh stressed the importance of Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) which was the future and solution to Ghana’s job market.

Mr Perkoh said as part of the NAP initiative, each apprentice would receive a monthly incentive of GH¢700.00 until the completion of the training.

He said the program involves training in carpentry, fashion design, hairdressing and other artisan trades giving participants the opportunity to gain practical skills in high demand areas.

Additionally, the beneficiaries would be provided with start-up equipment and tools to help them set-up their own businesses and shops after completing the program, a crucial step towards long-term employment and economic independence.

Mr Perkoh therefore urged the beneficiaries to take the three-year training seriously as it was a vital step in securing their future and be self-reliant.

For Master Trainers, he said a total of 10 had undergone a three-day capacity training and expressed satisfaction with the knowledge acquired.

Some of the beneficiaries were grateful to Mr James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament for Assin North and Mr Sylvester Amakye District Chief Executive, for their contribution and dedication to the program.