Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, has announced plans to bring in another batch of 600 “kayayeis,” or head porters, for vocational training aimed at equipping them with skills for sustainable careers.
This announcement was made during the graduation ceremony of the third cohort under the Kayaaye Empowerment Program, held in Accra on August 29, 2024.
The program trained a group of young women who were selected from Madina and Ashaiman in vocational disciplines to help them establish meaningful careers.
The vocational training covered areas such as bakery, soap making, make-up artistry, catering services, and outdoor decorations, among others.
In his address, Mr. Ofosu Nkansah congratulated the graduates, acknowledging the initiative was introduced by the Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. He emphasised that the training would continue throughout the year.
“Our ultimate thanks go to His Excellency the President and the Vice President, whose vision made this possible. The training will continue throughout the year, as we are prepared to take in the 4th cohort of beneficiaries,” he said.
Mr. Nkansah also announced that each graduate would receive the remaining balance of a microgrant, amounting to 500 cedis, to assist them in purchasing materials for their newly acquired trades.
“And then lastly, the remainder of the stipends we give to you to take care of yourself will be paid to you right after here as seed money to kick your trades off at home,” he explained.
He further stated, “We haven’t finished the training. As you are leaving us, another 600 are coming for the training, and our intention is that we will keep doing this until most of our sisters at home, who do not have meaningful jobs, become self-employed. Thank you all and congratulations once again.”
The CEO also extended his gratitude to sister institutions that had supported the program and continued to do so.
Additionally, Mr. Robert Lamptey, the parliamentary candidate for the Madina Constituency under the NPP, urged the beneficiaries to seek further support for advancing their skills. He reminded them that his office is open to those who wish to upgrade their vocational training.
“What was given is just the basics, and if they want to upgrade themselves, they could come to me for support,” he noted.
On behalf of the Executive Director of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Samson Damtey Tetteh praised the kayayei graduates for their success, expressing optimism that the training would serve as a lifelong investment with long-term benefits.
The Kayayei Empowerment Program seeks to train about 5,000 kayayeis by the end of 2024.
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