The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has inaugurated a Grant Management Committee for the Adwumawura Programme, a flagship youth empowerment initiative aimed at tackling unemployment and strengthening entrepreneurship across Ghana.
The inauguration ceremony took place in Accra on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr. George Opare, described the Adwumawura Programme as a flagship initiative of President John Dramani Mahama, introduced as a strategic response to youth unemployment.
“The Adwumawura Programme is a flagship initiative of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, launched last year to ease unemployment and position entrepreneurship as a key driver of national development,” Mr. Opare said.
He explained that through the programme, 10,000 young entrepreneurs are supported annually with training, mentorship, and capacity-building opportunities, while at least 2,000 viable and scalable businesses receive grant support each year.
Progress Since Launch
Mr. Opare took stakeholders through the progress of the programme since its official launch in April 2025 by President Mahama. According to him, the application portal went live on the same day, alongside the circulation of paper applications through Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure nationwide accessibility.
He noted that a series of stakeholder engagements were organized to ensure a smooth take-off of the programme. The first engagement, held on May 14, 2025, involved government institutions. This was followed by a second engagement on May 16, 2025, which brought together innovation hubs and ecosystem players, and a third engagement on May 28, 2025, involving financial institutions.
“These engagements were deliberate and necessary to prepare the programme for effective implementation,” the minister stated.
Development of Training Manual
The minister further highlighted the rigorous process involved in developing the Adwumawura training manual. He revealed that the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) engaged a consultant between June 14 and June 20, 2025, with the first draft of the training manual completed on June 25, 2025.
A four-day stakeholder workshop was subsequently held between June 29 and July 23, 2025, to refine the document, leading to a second draft on July 30, 2025. NEIP reviewed the second draft between August 4 and 7, and the final Adwumawura Manual was completed on August 12, 2025.
“This manual did not emerge overnight. It went through extensive consultations and reviews, with all relevant stakeholders fully involved,” Mr. Opare emphasized.
Transparent Selection of Training Partners
On the selection of training partners, the minister stressed that the process was transparent and merit-based. A call for applications was opened from June 24 to July 11, 2025, during which 161 applications were received nationwide.
Following diligent nationwide verification and inspections conducted between July 27 and August 4, 2025, 124 training partners, including 14 tertiary institution hubs, met the required criteria.
“This was not a process based on familiarity or favoritism. Every selection was guided strictly by laid-down procedures,” he said.
Focus on Impact and Inclusivity
Mr. Opare also underscored the programme’s emphasis on impact, scalability, gender inclusivity, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
“The key word here is impact—businesses that can truly transform communities and the national economy,” he noted.
He commended NEIP for ensuring inclusivity and urged members of the Grant Management Committee to carry out their duties with utmost professionalism, independence, and high ethical standards.
“I urge you to discharge your responsibilities with integrity and critical judgment, in the best interest of Ghanaian youth,” he added.
The minister officially inaugurated the committee, expressing confidence that the Adwumawura Programme will significantly contribute to youth empowerment and national development.
Story by: Fati Ali Wehyemeh
