150 Youth Graduate from Sinapi Aba Apprenticeship Programme in Upper West

About 150 young apprentices in the Upper West Region have graduated from the Youth Apprenticeship Program (YAP) run by Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans, marking a milestone in efforts to equip vulnerable youth with employable skills.

The graduation ceremony, held Wa on March 11, celebrated the successful completion of the trainees’ apprenticeship under the initiative, which aims to tackle unemployment among disadvantaged young people.

Addressing the ceremony, the Wa Branch Manager of Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans, Jonah Gandau, said the institution has remained committed to transforming lives and building resilient communities since its establishment more than three decades ago.

“Sinapi Aba has been in business for over 30 years, and in May we will mark 32 years of operations,” he said. “We are concerned about building strong communities and impacting lives so that everyone can care for one another.”

According to him, the organisation’s mission is rooted in its vision of building a nation under the Almighty God where the strong help the weak and people have the dignity of providing for themselves, their families, their churches and their communities.

Mr. Gandau explained that beyond offering banking services and financial solutions, Sinapi Aba introduced the Youth Apprenticeship Programme as a social intervention to empower vulnerable youth.

“The programme provides opportunities for these young people to acquire employable skills that enable them to improve their standard of living and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities,” he said.

He noted that beneficiaries are selected through a rigorous process and placed under experienced trade masters to gain practical skills. The full cost of the training, including stipends, tools and equipment, is borne by Sinapi Aba at no cost to the apprentices.

Mr. Gandau described the graduation as a significant milestone for the beneficiaries, commending them for their dedication and perseverance.

“As we celebrate their graduation today, let it not be seen as the end of their journey but the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities, innovation and hope,” he said.

The Program Manager, Mrs. Araba Mosner Ansong, said the initiative was first piloted in 2003 in Accra and Kumasi with 136 apprentices.

“After the pilot, we realised the program was very successful, so we decided to roll it out in many towns across Ghana,” she explained.

She said the program targets young people between the ages of 15 and 24 and allows them to choose trades they are passionate about, after which they are placed under master craftspeople for a three-year apprenticeship.

According to Mrs. Araba, Sinapi Aba pays the apprenticeship fees, provides tools for trainees, and periodically organises training sessions on business development, skills improvement and health.

“When they complete their training, we also pay for them to sit for the master craftship examination and ensure they are certified as professionals,” she said.

She added that Sinapi Aba also provides start-up capital to help graduates establish their own businesses.

Mrs. Araba disclosed that the programme is currently operating in 13 of Ghana’s 16 regions and has trained a total of 5,585 youth nationwide since its inception.

The latest graduation, she noted, forms part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to expand opportunities for young people and reduce unemployment across the country.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to Sinapi Aba for sponsoring their training, describing it as life-changing. They noted that the skills they acquired have provided them with a reliable means of earning income and supporting themselves.