UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
BY: VALERIUS ATUIMAH
The National Apprenticeship Program (NAP), described as a “game changer” by its regional coordinator, Hon. James Konzabre, is poised to make a significant impact on youth employment in the Upper East Region. The program, which is a key government initiative, aims to provide accessible and inclusive skills training that directly addresses the needs of the labor market.
Hon. Konzabre, the Regional Coordinator for the NAP, highlighted the program’s focus during a recent interview on the Ura Sunrise show. He stated that the NAP is specifically targeting youth between the ages of 15 and 40, with a strong emphasis on including women and people with disabilities. In a deliberate effort to promote inclusivity, the program has allocated 40% of its intake to women and 5% to persons with disabilities. The program also extends its reach to include prison inmates, offering them a pathway to reintegrate into society with marketable skills.
The initiative is designed to be fundamentally different from traditional apprenticeship models. Unlike the informal system, the NAP is fully sponsored by the government, covering the cost of training, providing toolkits, and even offering start-up kits upon graduation to help apprentices establish their own businesses. This is a crucial feature, as a major hurdle for many young people in the past has been the lack of capital to start their own ventures after completing their training.
In the Upper East Region, the pilot phase of the program will train approximately 1,200 apprentices across various trades and skill areas. These trades are grouped into nine major blocks: agriculture and agro-processing, craftsmanship and artisanal trades, mechanical and electrical work, traditional crafts and creative arts, fashion and textiles, beauty and personal care, renewable energy, hospitality and tourism, and ICT and emerging digital crafts. These apprentices are being recruited from all 16 districts of the region, ensuring broad geographic coverage.
Regarding the selection process, Hon. Konzabre clarified that those who applied but were not shortlisted for the current phase should not reapply. The program maintains a comprehensive database of all applicants. As subsequent rounds of recruitment begin, the coordinators will refer back to this database to select new apprentices, ensuring that a single application is sufficient for consideration for future opportunities.
A key aspect of the NAP’s structure is the official certification provided at the end of the training. Apprentices will receive a nationally recognized certificate from the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), giving them a professional credential to secure employment or win contracts. This certification is a major step up from the localized certificates typically issued under the informal system.
The program has also scheduled a significant upcoming event, a formal induction ceremony for the newly selected apprentices, set to take place on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The event’s target audience includes the newly selected apprentices and their families and friends. The objective is to officially welcome the apprentices into the program, give the initiative a high public profile, and encourage the new cohort as they begin their training.
Beyond the practical training, the program also includes a mandatory theoretical component, with 30% of the curriculum dedicated to classroom learning and the remaining 70% to practical work. This dual approach, coupled with the mentorship provided by CTVET-certified master craft persons, is intended to produce well-rounded and highly competent professionals. This mentorship is preceded by a rigorous training program for the master craft persons themselves, scheduled to be held from Tuesday, August 26 to Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day, ensuring they are equipped with the skills to effectively guide and teach their apprentices.
The NAP represents a strategic effort to tackle unemployment by not just training people but also empowering them to become self-employed and contribute to the region’s economic growth.
