The Sekondi-Takoradi Skills Development Training, funded by the European Union through the Twin-cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP), has commenced, providing professional skills training to 363 vulnerable groups, unemployed women, youth, returnees, and potential future migrants.
The project is being implemented in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana, and Palermo, Italy.
The beneficiaries, consisting of 262 males and 101 females, will receive training in various fields, including crop production, animal husbandry, aquaculture, bio-digester technology, eco-friendly oven production, and plastic waste recycling.
The training program will span three months and will focus on two main areas: urban agriculture techniques and green climate-smart production technologies.
Under the urban agriculture aspect, the training aims to equip youth and small-holder vegetable farmers with the necessary skills to leverage opportunities within the agriculture value chain, from production to consumption.
The green and climate-smart production technologies training will focus on recycling low-value plastic waste into marketable products, bio-digester technology, and the production of eco-friendly ovens to address environmental pollution.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of STMA, Mr Abdul Munin Issah, launched the program as part of the 2023 Europe Month celebration in Ghana, highlighting the theme “Celebrating Youth and Skills.”
He expressed gratitude to the EU for funding the TCSPP and acknowledged their contribution to supporting Ghanaian youth in acquiring the necessary skills for quality jobs.
Mr Issah emphasized that the skills development program would not only make individuals employable but also contribute to the socio-economic development of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and Ghana as a whole.
He further stated that the project would provide post-training assistance to deserving trainees, including support in setting up social enterprises, constructing 500 bio-digester toilets, and producing 100 eco-friendly ovens for low-income coastal and fishing communities in the Metropolis.
Mr Issah emphasized the need for teaching and learning employable skills, as the government and formal sector alone cannot provide employment opportunities for all qualified individuals in the country.
He highlighted the importance of aligning skills training with the actual needs of the labour market to ensure its effectiveness in creating employment opportunities.
The MCE encouraged the beneficiaries to seize the numerous opportunities available after their training and actively participate throughout the program.
He also announced that support would be provided after the training, including the provision of seedlings, small farming implements, equipment, tools, and materials for setting up businesses.
Nana Kofi Abuna, the chief of Essipong, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously to improve their prospects.
The three-year TCSPP project aims to enhance the capacity of authorities in addressing the challenges of urban sprawl, climate change, and inadequate social safety nets for vulnerable populations in Sekondi-Takoradi and Palermo.
