Accra: The Centre for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana), in collaboration with the Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment (RISE-Ghana), has launched an entrepreneurship training project designed to provide young people in the Upper East Region with crucial business development skills. The project is part of a broader strategy to enhance community resilience against violent extremism through socio-economic inclusion.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative, titled ‘Bridging the Gap: Promoting Socio-Economic Inclusion, Social Cohesion, and Peacebuilding for Vulnerable Communities,’ is financially backed by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF). It aims to train 60 young individuals across six districts: Bongo District, Kassena-Nankana Municipality, Builsa North Municipality, Bolga East District, Bawku Municipality, and Nabdam District.
RISE-Ghana will be conducting a series of business skills training sessions as part of the project, starting with a 10-day small ruminant production program targeting selected beneficiaries. The training is specifically designed to equip youth, women, and minority groups with practical skills in small ruminant husbandry, covering areas such as animal selection, feeding, housing, health management, and profitable livestock practices.
Coordinated by CDD-Ghana, the initiative seeks to enhance livelihoods, bolster economic resilience, and mitigate vulnerabilities that could be exploited by violent extremism. On the opening day of the training, Madam Jaw-Haratu Amadu, Head of Programmes at RISE-Ghana, highlighted the empowerment potential of the training for young individuals and their households, emphasizing its role in providing sustainable sources of food and income.
Participants will also engage in field visits to demonstration farms to acquire practical skills that will enhance their production capabilities. The project is expected to contribute to food security and economic stability within the six districts, while addressing the country’s rising unemployment rate.
Mr. Major Gogo Ashifie, an accountant at CDD-Ghana, conducted sessions on basic accounting, including bookkeeping techniques and branding and marketing strategies. He encouraged participants to take the training seriously, underscoring its importance in managing small-scale enterprises and improving household income.
Mr. Ashifie explained that the training aims to equip community members with tools to track revenues, costs, and profits without formal accounting backgrounds, fostering trust with buyers and suppliers. He also advised participants to use basic marketing techniques to promote their businesses effectively, attract and retain customers, and enhance their economic resilience.