The Member of Parliament for Ketu South and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Dzifa Abla Gomashie, has awarded certificates and start-up tools to young people who successfully completed vocational skills training under a long-running empowerment programme in the constituency.
The ceremony, held at the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, honoured dozens of beneficiaries who passed their certification examinations. The MP described creative arts and technical skills as effective tools for reducing poverty and tackling youth unemployment.
The decade-long programme covers several vocational areas, including phone repairs, sewing, hairdressing, ICT, soap making, and bead production.
Speaking to Adom News, Madam Gomashie explained that this year’s support targeted trainees recommended by their instructors as outstanding candidates for the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) examinations.
“This year’s support focused on trainees who were recommended by their trainers and mentors as outstanding candidates to sit for the NVTI examinations,” she said.
Candidates who passed not only received certificates but also start-up tools to help them begin work immediately. “Out of the selected candidates, several who passed their exams were rewarded not only with certificates but also with tools to help them begin work immediately. Items distributed included sewing machines, hair dryers, and phone repair kits,” the MP added.
Madam Gomashie said the exercise aimed to recognise commitment and motivate young people to take skills training seriously.
“We want our young people to understand that no profession in the creative space is inferior. Skills training opens many doors. You can be self-employed and also employ others,” she stated.
Sharing her personal journey, the MP recalled relying on practical skills such as hair braiding and cooking to support herself through school when her parents retired and finances became difficult. “People think success only comes from sitting in an office. But those with practical skills see their income daily. Skills development gives you financial independence and dignity,” she said.
Madam Gomashie emphasised that government’s growing investment in technical and creative industries reflects the economic value of Ghana’s culture and creativity.
“The broader objective is to build entrepreneurship in Ketu South. We want more fashion designers, more hairdressers, more phone repairers — people who can provide services right here in the community. When we empower our youth with skills, poverty will reduce,” she said.
She added that while government agencies handle nationwide vocational training, her intervention is a personal effort to directly impact lives in the constituency. Madam Gomashie also assured that more training initiatives would be introduced to ensure young people continue acquiring employable and income-generating skills.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude and pledged to use the start-up equipment productively to improve their livelihoods.
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