The government has begun a broad stakeholder engagement in advance of the introduction of the YouStart programme.

According to the government, these activities are part of the steps being implemented to ensure that Ghanaians understand the YouStart initiative and that it has the requisite support and acceptability.

Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, Deputy Minister of Finance and MP for Ejisu, stated at a ceremony on Monday (23 May) to engage regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives from the Bono East, Ahafo, Western North, Ashanti, and Bono regions, that the government will engage widely on the YouStart programme and incorporate feedback into it.

“The YouStart initiative provides us with a one-of-a-kind chance to solve the country’s unemployment problem while also identifying and developing the potential of Ghanaian youth.” To do this, we must all unite behind the government’s campaign for the YouStart initiative. That is why, before the President unveils it, we will consult Ghanaians,” he stated.

Mr Dan Botwe, Minister for Local Government and Member of Parliament for Okere, was also present, as were the Chief Executive Officers of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme and the Ghana Enterprises Agencies, Mr Kofi Ofosu Nkansah and Mrs Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, respectively.

About YOUSTART

YouStart is a programme that seeks to support young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, training and technical skills that will enable them to start, build and grow their own businesses. This initiative targets young people and students between the ages of 18-35 years who have brilliant business ideas and viable businesses and supports these individuals to nurture, grow and expand their businesses and job creation in the economy.

The government through the YouStart programme intends to build an entrepreneurial nation by providing some of the key enablers that make entrepreneurship a success. These include access to finance and markets, mentorship, strategic partnership and digital linkages, technical assistance and business advisory support service.

Given the high rate of youth unemployment in the country, Government intends to use the YOUSTART programme to create more jobs for the economy and to support the expansion and growth of Ghanaian businesses within the next 3 years.