Applicants of youth enterprise support (YES) are calling for training to help them acquire the requisite knowledge in their chosen area of entrepreneurship which will help them succeed. The applicants who attended YES business clinic in seven regions out of ten opted to be trained due to their little knowledge in the area. About 90% of applicants who are going or already in the agriculture sector believe the training is a greater priority than the funds. Some applicants who are already into the agric sector said the training has been of immense support to them after realizing their problems are not funds-related but rather has to do with skills such as proper accounts, book keeping and farm management skills.
About 2084 Young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-35 have applied for the 10 million seed fund. The YES initiative has been designed to help Ghana’s young and innovative population turn great ideas into thriving business enterprises. The program was initiated by President John Dramani Mahama with a ten million Ghana cedis (GH¢10,000,000) seed fund to assist young Ghanians with creative, innovative business ideas and plans to achieve their full potential. In order to have a good business proposal, YES introduced the business clinic to help applicants to restructure the business plan to fit YES system of selection. For months now the YES team has been to seven regions to meet the applicants of the fund to help them, and understand their shortfalls. There have been calls for YES to release funds for applicants but after the business clinic participants have opted to be trained to acquire the knowledge needed to succeed instead of releasing funds to them.
The applicants said the clinic has been helpful. Some said it has given them knowledge to run their business. Some applicants identified their challenges as non financial but structures and how they run. These testimonies cut across the regions where the business clinic has been held. Applicants applauded the president for the initiative. Seven regions have benefited from the clinic. The YES team will be in Wa, Tamale and Bolgatanga in few days to meet applicants in these regions. Some of the participants who went through the business clinic said the training has motivated them and propelled them with ideals on proper business planning. They say if the status quo is maintained it will help the teaming unemployed youth with ideas on how to create their own businesses. The participants called on government to sustain it to help the youth in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of YES, Helga Aryee Boadi has been taking applicants through their business proposal, how to restructure it, how to manage their business and the skills needed to run entreprises. Mrs. Aryee Boadi says the problem with many applicants is the understanding of their business area and adds that a number of the applicants need to go for training before funds can be released to them. She has also called on all interested parties to support YES to succeed in its quest.
