Accra: The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a Junior Chamber at the University of Mines and Technology to equip students with entrepreneurial skills.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative aims to address youth unemployment by preparing students in Ghana's mining and technology sector with practical business knowledge, mentorship, and private sector exposure. The UMaT-GNCCI Junior Chamber marks the fourth chapter in the Chamber's growing national student entrepreneurship network, following similar initiatives at Takoradi Technical University and University of Ghana in 2025, as well as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The inclusion of UMaT is strategic, considering it is Ghana's only university dedicated to mining and technology education, positioning its graduates at the heart of the country's natural resource economy. The programme seeks to bridge the gap between academia and industry through hands-on training, market-relevant skills, and lifelong learning.
The initiative arrives at a time when youth unemployment in Ghana remains high, particularly among recent graduates facing challenges transitioning from school to work. The GNCCI Junior Chamber will provide structured entrepreneurial training delivered by the Chamber and its business community to enhance students' job market readiness.
The programme will also offer industry-led mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to enterprise development, including training in technology-driven entrepreneurship and access to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area and international markets. Mr. Ebenezer Cobbinah, Municipal Chief Executive of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, described the initiative as timely and essential for empowering young people.
He emphasized that Ghana's economy relies on a new generation of entrepreneurs who understand industry, embrace technology, and build sustainable businesses. Professor Lewis Brew, Dean of Students at UMaT, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed the University's commitment to the partnership.
Professor Brew stated that the University aims to produce graduates capable of transforming knowledge of natural resources into viable enterprises, adding that the Junior Chamber would provide the necessary private sector linkages. Mr. St©phane Abass Miezan, President of the GNCCI, highlighted that the initiative serves as a national platform designed to connect students directly to Ghana's business community.
He encouraged students to focus on creating jobs rather than solely seeking employment and mentioned that the Chamber plans to expand the Junior Chamber model to other tertiary institutions to build a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem driven by academia and private sector collaboration.