Thirty-five young people in the Oforikrom municipality have received start-up kits for fruit juice processing after successfully completing training under the Agriculture and Agribusiness to Entrepreneurship (AA2E) Programme, an initiative of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) aimed at equipping youth with practical skills and entrepreneurial opportunities in agribusiness.

The beneficiaries were presented with fruit juice processing equipment at a start-up exercise organized by Mr. Bernard Owusu Sampong, the Municipal Officer of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), as part of efforts to support graduates of the programme to establish sustainable businesses and create employment opportunities.

The AA2E Programme, implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation through the BizBox Project and other development partners, seeks to bridge the gap between traditional agriculture and modern agribusiness by providing competency-based training, business development services, and start-up support for young entrepreneurs.

The Municipal Director of Agriculture, Madam Lina Adwutwumwaa Gyamfi, commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency for empowering young people with practical skills and resources to establish sustainable enterprises. She noted that the initiative contributes significantly to job creation, value addition, and local economic development.

Madam Gyamfi congratulated the beneficiaries on completing the training program and urged them to make effective use of the equipment provided and apply the skills acquired during the training.

“The knowledge and skills you have acquired, together with the juicers being presented today, provide an excellent opportunity to venture into agribusiness and create sustainable sources of income,” she said.

The Municipal Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Pearl Minkah Bampoe delivering a speech on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Anwel Sadat Ahmed, described the programme as a demonstration of the collective commitment of stakeholders to empowering young people with practical skills, business knowledge, and resources for sustainable livelihoods.

She noted that the beneficiaries had successfully completed training in fruit juice processing and acquired valuable skills necessary to establish and grow their own businesses.

She encouraged beneficiaries to maximize the resources provided, apply the knowledge gained during training, and strive for excellence in their entrepreneurial pursuits.

The HR Manager also commended the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the Mastercard Foundation, and all development partners for investing in the future of young people and creating pathways for sustainable employment and economic empowerment.

In attendance were Assembly members, government appointees and assembly staff.