The Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations and Technical Affairs at the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Onasis Kobby Rosely, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping Ghanaian youth with practical skills and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
He said the government, under President John Dramani Mahama, had introduced a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing youth employability and providing young people with the skills required to succeed in an increasingly competitive job market.
Mr Rosely made the remarks at a skills development workshop organised by the Women’s Commission of the Accra City Campus branch of the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN), the student and youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He highlighted the role of institutions such as the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in implementing programmes designed to support young people seeking to acquire employable and entrepreneurial skills.
According to him, young people should view skills development as an opportunity to create additional sources of income alongside their formal employment.
“President John Dramani Mahama is very focused and keen on giving skills to the youth of this country. Even if you have a full-time job, you should consider this as a side hustle that will not require eight hours a day but can still provide you with income for your daily upkeep,” he said.
Mr Rosely also encouraged participants to explore government support programmes that provide equipment and start-up kits to young people who acquire skills and demonstrate commitment to their chosen trades.
He recounted his personal experiences while living abroad to underscore the importance of acquiring practical skills, noting that skills such as barbering could provide sustainable income and serve as a cost-effective means of building a livelihood.
He urged the beneficiaries to put the knowledge gained from the workshop into practice and continuously improve their skills to remain competitive.
Mr Rosely further commended the Women’s Commission of the Accra City Campus branch of TEIN for organising the programme and for its efforts to promote youth development.
He noted that similar training programmes offered commercially could cost participants more than GH¢1,000, making the free training initiative particularly valuable to young people who may otherwise struggle to afford such opportunities.
“If you go out there to be trained, you will spend not less than GH¢1,000 on such training, but the leadership of WOCOM has put up this initiative to give you free training. I am highly impressed and urge you all not to take this opportunity for granted,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to treat the training as a stepping stone towards financial independence and entrepreneurship, stressing that acquiring a practical skill could complement formal employment and create additional opportunities for young people.
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