The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment (MYDE) has handed over sixteen pick-up vehicles to the National Youth Authority (NYA) to support the effective implementation and monitoring of the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) across the country.
The vehicles, one for each region, are intended to enhance the work of National Apprenticeship Coordinators by improving supervision of master craft persons and apprentices nationwide.
Speaking at a brief handing-over ceremony, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, said the provision of the vehicles would significantly improve mobility, strengthen coordination, and ensure the timely achievement of the programme’s objectives.
He urged the coordinators to take proper care of the vehicles to guarantee long-term benefits for apprentices under the programme.
The Minister further disclosed that tracking devices have been installed in all the vehicles to prevent misuse and promote accountability, cautioning that management would be held responsible for any abuse. He also charged the Chief Executive Officer of the NYA to closely supervise their use.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Osman Ayariga, said the National Apprenticeship Programme is currently training about 14,000 beneficiaries nationwide, with plans to scale up to 100,000 trainees in line with the President’s commitment.
He noted that the success of any major national programme depends on adequate logistics and investment, describing the provision of the vehicles as timely and necessary.
According to him, the vehicles will significantly enhance the operations of regional coordinators and strengthen the Authority’s mandate.
Mr Ayariga added that the National Apprenticeship Programme goes beyond skills acquisition, positioning it as a key driver of industrialisation and a strategic initiative to make Ghana a global hub for skills development.
Speaking on behalf of the regional coordinators, the Volta Regional Coordinator for NAP, Johnson Korbla Samlafo, expressed appreciation to MYDE and the NYA for the support, noting that improved logistics would boost operational efficiency and enhance the delivery of hands-on, skills-based training to apprentices across the country.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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