Fifty young entrepreneurs in Madina have received a major boost to start and expand their businesses, as Member of Parliament Dr. Francis Xavier-Sosu rolled out financial support and equipment under the Madina Job Centre’s vocational apprenticeship programme.
The Member of Parliament for Madina, Dr. Francis Xavier-Sosu, has provided GH¢5,000 each to selected beneficiaries and donated ovens and food supplies to graduating catering students under the Madina Job Centre’s (MJC) vocational apprenticeship module.
The intervention coincided with the graduation of 50 trainees from the centre, a skills development hub established by the MP in 2019. The graduates completed training programmes lasting between three months and one year in fields such as baking, digital marketing, and other vocational trades.
As part of the support package, trainees who specialised in baking received ovens and starter supplies to help launch their businesses, while top-performing graduates were awarded GH¢5,000 each to expand their operations.
In a related initiative, 24 entrepreneurs operating Indomie noodle joints across more than 50 locations in Madina were also given GH¢5,000 each to strengthen and grow their businesses. The programme is expected to stimulate local enterprise development and create employment opportunities within the community.
Dr. Sosu described entrepreneurship as a practical response to youth unemployment in Ghana, noting that while government plays a critical role in job creation, it cannot single-handedly provide jobs for all young people. He emphasised that youth unemployment is a global challenge affecting both developing and advanced economies, with potential implications for social stability and national security.
He urged young people to embrace self-employment rather than relying solely on formal job opportunities, adding that many unemployed constituents who seek his support are referred to the Madina Job Centre for skills training, business development, and access to funding.
Through partnerships with the Madina Chamber of Commerce, the initiative has facilitated over GH¢1 million in financial support for small businesses. Beneficiaries are selected based on viable business proposals and are supported to scale up their operations.
This year’s graduating cohort includes 50 young women and 24 mothers engaged in local industry ventures, all of whom have received financial assistance to expand their businesses.
Dr. Sosu highlighted the potential ripple effect of such investments, explaining that if each supported entrepreneur employs even a few additional workers, the overall impact on job creation in Madina could be significant.
He called for similar community-based initiatives to be replicated across the country as a proactive approach to tackling unemployment.
While awaiting broader government interventions to improve economic conditions, he urged beneficiaries to make the most of the support provided, grow their enterprises, and inspire others within their communities.
Dr. Sosu expressed optimism that sustained investment in skills training and entrepreneurship would drive long-term economic growth and create opportunities for future generations.
By Sampson Kumah Ifeetwube Elvis
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