The Ghana Tech Lab in partnership with Dansyn Innovation Social Organization (Dansyn ISO) has successfully organized a six-week intensive training in web development – GTL Base Programme – for thirty young people in the Upper East Region.
The training under the theme: Pathways to Sustainable Employment, a Partnership Initiative Between Ghana Tech Lab and Dansyn ISO is aimed at improving the local digital economy and propelling youth employment in the region by equipping them with employable skills and thus curbing the high rate of unemployment among the youth particularly graduates.
With support from MasterCard Foundation, Young Africa Works, the World Bank and the Ministry of Communication, twenty-five young women and five young men were successful equipped with digital skills in the area of web development that would enable them setup businesses to provide employment opportunities for other young people.
The training program was climaxed with a start-up Summit which brought together major stakeholders to outline challenges, opportunities and policies for the transformation of the local economy in efforts to achieve sustainable development through digital skills and entrepreneurship.
In a speech read by a representative of the Regional Minister, Ms. Tangoba Abayage stressed the need for the youth to acquire innovative technological skills so as to create employment opportunities for themselves.
She noted the government’s commitment in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and reiterated the call on the private sector to partner with government in providing the youth with technological and entrepreneurial skills so as to make them employable in the digital market.
The summit which was held at GANASS Hotel in Bolgatanga also afforded the trainees the opportunity to pitch their business ideas before a panel of judges. The trainees formed fifteen teams of two each. The teams took turns to present their business ideas before the panel of judges. Three teams with the best innovative ideas were selected for further training and nurturing for ten weeks.
Speaking to Dreamzfmonline.com on the sidelines of the summit, CEO of Dansyn ISO, Daniel Y. Nang disclosed that the best two teams will be adequately prepared for a national business pitch in Accra and would be offered further training and support outside the country should they emerg winners of the national pitch.
Mr. Daniel Y. Nang further disclosed that the remaining teams will be given a two-month intensive programme with stipend in organizations within the region. He added that his outfit and the Ghana Tech Lab would make the necessary arrangements for their possible retention in the various organizations they would be undertaking the internship.
Some of the trainees who spoke to the media at the summit said the training was comprehensive and vigorous and they are hopeful of excelling in their future businesses with the skills they have acquired through the training.
The world economy is gradually migrating to a digital economy especially in the Covid-19 pandemic period where there are efforts to minimize businesses that involve gatherings and bodily contacts.
Individuals are resorting to online trading with its attendant demands for web and apps developers to provide business websites and apps for online business.
The government of Ghana has taken steps aimed at formalizing the Ghanaian economy through technology and digitization so as to enhance service delivery and improve the lives of citizens.
