Ghana’s commitment to tackling youth unemployment and strengthening the nation’s skills base has taken a bold step with the launch of the National Apprenticeship Program (NAP), a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, the sector Minister, Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq., confirmed that the program will officially commence on August 12, 2025, with over 115,000 applicants already registered.
The NAP, inaugurated on April 30, 2025, at the University for Development Studies in Tamale, is designed as a strategic intervention to promote self-employment and ensure that Ghanaian youth receive practical and industry-relevant technical and vocational training.
According to the Minister, the program will be implemented in partnership with a broad coalition of sector stakeholders, including technical training institutions and master artisans, in a bid to train 500,000 youth nationwide over the coming years.
“This is not just about training. It is about employability. We are ensuring that every young person enrolled will receive industry-relevant skills to either find decent employment or start their own businesses.”
Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq.
The scale of the initiative is historic. A total of 115,000 applicants have enrolled so far, consisting of 95,819 trainees and 19,190 trainers.
Among the applicants, 57,897 submissions were made through the online portal. Notably, of those submitted online, 18,571 were male and 39,326 were female, with an additional 720 applicants being youth with disabilities—demonstrating what the Minister described as “our firm commitment to inclusivity and equal access.”
Prior Knowledge Certification Program
To guarantee the quality and legitimacy of the training provided, the Ministry is introducing what it calls the “Prior Knowledge Certification Program.” As part of this framework, trainers who wish to participate in the NAP must undergo a competency assessment administered by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) authorities.
“They will be certified only after proving they have the knowledge and skills to teach. This will give credibility to the training and protect the integrity of the program.”
Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq.
Each successful apprentice will receive a certification upon completion of their training. More importantly, the government is providing a monthly stipend to trainees—an unprecedented measure in the country’s apprenticeship history.
“For the first time in the history of this country, apprentices will receive a monthly stipend to support them while undergoing training. This is not charity; it is a deliberate investment in the future of our country.”
Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq.
Startup Tools and Financial Support
In addition to the stipend, the Minister disclosed that beneficiaries will be equipped with startup tools and financial support at the end of their training.
According to him, those who express interest in launching their own businesses will be enrolled on the government’s Adwumawura Program—a complementary initiative focused on entrepreneurship development.
Through this integration, beneficiaries of the apprenticeship program can access startup capital and continuous mentorship, creating a seamless pathway from skill acquisition to business creation.
“This is part of our broader agenda to transition participants of the National Apprenticeship Program from apprenticeship to what we call entrepreneurship. This is how we intend to build a strong, dynamic economy driven by the creativity and energy of our young people.”
Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, Esq.
The Minister also confirmed that the government has backed this vision with significant financial commitment, noting that in the year 2025, President John Dramani Mahama, through the Ministry of Finance, has allocated GHS 300 million to the program.Scheduled to kick off on August 12, 2025, the program will begin with a matriculation ceremony for the first cohort of trainees.
The Minister stressed that this marks the beginning of a national movement that will transform Ghana’s youth landscape by making vocational and technical training a viable and respectable alternative to traditional academic routes.
He added that the NAP also aligns with broader government strategies aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting industrialization through human capital development.
Beyond the numbers, the Minister noted that the success of the program will be measured by the number of young people who graduate from training into stable livelihoods, whether in employment or through their own enterprises.
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