This was after undergoing apprentice­ship training in the south Dayi Constituency of the Northern Region as part of the Business in a Box (BizBox) project.

The beneficiaries were trained in hairdressing, dressmaking, and baking among others and were given tailoring machines, hair dryers, bakery oven machines, and cylinders.

The training was the initiative of the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi Constituency, Mr. Rockson Nelson Dafeamakpor with support from the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) and Mastercard Foundation.

Mr Dafeamakpor in an interview with Adom News said the ini­tiative would empower the youth, especially the young girls and wom­en to ensure that their future career prospects were secured.

“I went to the GEA office to ask abou the program and through explanation, he was able to lobby for initially 150 apprentices but was later given 100 and through my campaign to communities in my Constituency.

“I entreat the youth who want to go into the apprenticeship to register and through that, today, we are handing over the start-up kits to 86 beneficiaries which the second batch will also start soon. But the most happiest part of this program is that the Madams who trained these apprentices will also be benefiting from this program and want to seized the opportunity to advise the beneficiaries not to go and sell this machines because, there are security codes on them so if you make any attempt to sell it, you will be arrested,” Dafeamakpor said.

An active MP, he pledged he would continue to be busy trying to address all issues of the youth, both formally educated and skills educated.

He said the distribution of the kits to the beneficiaries was another evidence of their efforts to make a positive impact on the people he served.

Seth Klutse speaking on be behalf of the Volta Regional Director of the GEA, Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh at the graduation ceremony, said their outfit facilitated the cre­ation of over 109,471 jobs with 67 per cent benefiting women across the country.

The manager said empower­ing the youth was an ideal way for them to learn a trade and be economically independent on their own.

Some beneficiaries, thanked the MP, GEA and Mastercard Foundation for the support and assured them that they would leverage the skills to im­prove their lives, and that of their families and communities.

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The BixBox Project under the Mastercard Foundation is part of a broader strategy by the NPP government to address youth unemployment by ensuring that they have the necessary tools to kickstart their own businesses and foster economic independence.

The startup kits included essential items such as sewing machines, hair dryers, carpentry tools, catering to various sectors including tailoring, baking ovens, gas cylinders, blubbering tools and electrical equipment for mechanics and electricians.

During the distribution exercise, Sherifa Sekyere Tijani underscored the importance of youth empowerment in driving sustainable development.

She noted that young people are the future of the constituency so by equipping them with the right tools, they are just not giving them a means of living but rather investing in the future of Nkwanta South.

The NPP parliamentary candidate encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the resources provided and to remain committed to their entrepreneurship journeys.

She urged residents of Nkwanta South to break away from the NDC dominance and vote her as the parliamentary and Dr Mahamadu Bawumia for more social intervention projects that will transform the lives of Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries speaking in an interview with Adom News expressed their gratitude to the government.

They promised to use the items received to transform their lives.

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The Business In A Box (BizBox) Project is a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).

The project was under the auspices of the Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the parliamentary candidate for Nkwanta North Benjamin Muyon.

The initiative aims to empower individuals by providing them with tools to foster self-sufficiency and economic growth.

Among the items distributed were sewing machines and hair dryers, which are crucial for those looking to establish or expand their businesses.

Speaking at a short ceremony to handover the items to the beneficiaries, the District Chief Executive (DCE)William Nawugma stressed the importance of utilising the resources effectively, urging them to embrace the opportunities they present.

According to him, the items are not just gifts, but rather tools for their future resources that will transform their aspirations into reality

He encouraged the beneficiaries to make the most of what they have received and turn their skills into a sustainable income.

The DCE also outlined that the Assembly will put measures in place to ensure that items are used for it intended purpose.

The beneficiaries, who include aspiring tailors and hairstylists, expressed their gratitude for the support.

They shared their dreams of starting their own businesses and contributing to the local economy.