The National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), one of the flagship social intervention initiatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, has officially begun the training of its first batch of beneficiaries across all 261 districts in the 16 regions of Ghana.
Announcing the commencement on his official Facebook page on Thursday October 9, 2025, the National Coordinator of the NAP, Nicodemus N.B.D. Dery, described the rollout as “a significant step by the NDC government under the visionary leadership of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama towards empowering young people with employable skills, creating sustainable jobs, and promoting self-reliance across Ghana.”
According to Mr. Dery, more than 230,000 apprenticeship applications and over 20,000 Master Craft Persons (MCPs) applications were received between April 30 and September 30, 2025. Out of these, 4,057 MCPs across nine broad priority trade areas were shortlisted and have undergone intensive refresher and accreditation training fully sponsored by the programme.
He noted that 2,000 MCPs have already started training apprentices under the pilot phase, while the remaining will begin in the coming weeks as the programme scales up.
On the side of the trainees, the Coordinator disclosed that out of the over 230,000 applications received, 20,285 have been reviewed and shortlisted, with 10,000 apprentices currently undergoing training. “The review of applications is still ongoing, and applications remain open,” he said.
Mr. Dery expressed his appreciation to President Mahama and the NDC government for what he described as a “life-changing intervention” that will help reduce unemployment, transform the future of young people, and bridge Ghana’s growing skills gap. He also thanked stakeholders for their support in ensuring a smooth start to the nationwide rollout.
He further assured applicants who have been shortlisted but are yet to begin training that they will be called in due course. “We kindly urge you to exercise patience, your turn will surely come. The necessary arrangements are being made to ensure that everyone is properly placed and begins training soon,” he said.
For those whose applications are still under review, Mr. Dery clarified that they do not need to reapply. “Your applications remain valid and under review. Please remain calm and patient. The process is ongoing, and no qualified applicant will be left behind,” he assured.
The National Apprenticeship Programme aims to equip Ghanaian youth with practical, industry-relevant skills and provide them with the tools and mentorship needed to start their own businesses after completion. It forms part of the Mahama administration’s broader strategy to tackle youth unemployment and promote inclusive national development.
Source: www.Kumasimail.com/JosephZiem
