The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, has officially handed over 16 Toyota Hilux pickup vehicles to the National Youth Authority (NYA) to enhance supervision and implementation of the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) across all regions.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Minister said the vehicles are intended to support effective monitoring, evaluation, and supervision of apprentices under the programme, particularly at the regional level. He explained that the pickups will be deployed to the National Apprenticeship Programme Secretariat and subsequently assigned to regional coordinators to enable them to regularly visit training centers and ensure standards are maintained.
Hon. Opare Addo stressed that the programme is a key intervention aimed at transitioning young people from apprenticeship to entrepreneurship, noting that effective supervision remains critical to its success. He cautioned that the vehicles are strictly for official use, warning against abuse and misuse.
“These are government vehicles, clearly branded and meant solely for the programme. We will install trackers to ensure they are used for their intended purpose,” he stated, while also urging beneficiaries to uphold a strong maintenance culture to preserve the vehicles.
The Minister revealed that the programme currently has about 14,000 apprentices enrolled, with the first cohort expected to graduate soon, paving the way for a new intake. According to him, the vehicles will play a crucial role in tracking apprentice performance, ensuring proper training by master craftsmen, and preventing exploitation of trainees.
He further emphasized that apprentices must not be diverted into domestic or unrelated work, describing such practices as a violation of the programme’s objectives. “It is the responsibility of regional coordinators to ensure apprentices are trained, not turned into errand runners or domestic help,” he added.
Welcoming the Minister, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Osman Abdulai Ayariga, Esq., expressed appreciation to President Mahama for prioritizing youth development through the National Apprenticeship Programme.
Mr. Ayariga disclosed that although the initial target was to train 10,000 young people, the programme successfully enrolled 14,000 trainees in its first year. He said the NYA is now aiming to train 100,000 youth this year, in line with the President’s vision, and over 500,000 young people within four years.
He described the provision of the vehicles as a major logistical boost that will enhance field operations and accelerate Ghana’s ambition to become a global hub for skills development and industrial growth.
The Minister later officially handed over the vehicles to the NYA CEO, who in turn transferred them to the National Apprenticeship Programme Coordinator for distribution to all 16 regions, describing the intervention as “the first of many” to support Ghanaian youth.
