President John Mahama is set to launch the government’s flagship programme, ‘Adwumawura’, in Kumasi today, April 28, at the Prempeh Assembly Hall. This is to mark the beginning of a bold new push to tackle youth unemployment and ignite entrepreneurial spirit across Ghana. The Adwumawura Programme is a special business start-up initiative crafted to facilitate the creation, tracking, and mentoring of at least 10,000 businesses every year, with a strong focus on empowering young people.
It will be driven by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). Targeting Ghanaians aged 18 to 35, the programme promises to equip the next generation with the tools to start, grow, and sustain their businesses — a lifeline for thousands seeking economic independence.
Adwumawura forms a central pillar of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s 2024 manifesto, underlining the party’s sweeping commitment to create 250,000 jobs annually through various initiatives, including the much-touted “Edwuma Pa” programme. By leaning heavily into entrepreneurship, skills development, and digital innovation, the Mahama-led Government aims to reposition Ghana’s youth as the vanguard of national economic growth.
Backing this ambition, the 2025 Budget Statement presented by Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson in March allocated a hefty GH₵100 million to kickstart the Adwumawura programme. The funds will support young entrepreneurs with skills training, mentorship, access to start-up capital, and provision of equipment — a holistic strategy to ensure businesses not only survive but thrive. In complement to Adwumawura, the Government’s National Apprenticeship Programme will provide free technical and vocational training, certification, and post-training start-up support.
This twin-track strategy is designed to tackle youth unemployment head-on by blending formal entrepreneurial support with practical skills training. Moreover, the administration is sweetening the deal for emerging businesses: start-ups will enjoy a two-year exemption from corporate and personal income taxes to ease the early financial pressures of new ventures.
Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, in a video message shared on Sunday, reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment. “In the run-up to the 2024 election, we promised to create decent and sustainable jobs for young people. Today, we are honouring that promise with action,” he said
Source: Myjoyonline.com
