The government has launched the Adwumawura Programme aimed at tackling youth unemployment by nurturing entrepreneurship among young people.

Speaking at the launch of the Adwumawura Programme in Kumasi on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Eric Adjei, said the initiative marked “the rebirth of a dream” seeded by President John Dramani Mahama during his previous administration.

“The Adwumawura Programme is more than a policy. It is a commitment, a lifeline – to the countless young men and women who rise every morning with big dreams but are often met with closed doors,” Adjei said. 

“Under the leadership of President Mahama, every youth will have the opportunity to soar,” he added.

The programme aims to create, track and mentor at least 10,000 businesses annually, with a special focus on Ghanaians aged between 18 and 35.

NEIP will work closely with development partners, private sector leaders, civil society organisations and the youth themselves to deliver the initiative.

Mr Adjei highlighted the impact of earlier efforts, pointing to the 2014 Youth Enterprise Support Fund – a precursor to NEIP – which had supported thousands of start-ups across Ghana.

“Thousands of young businesses, started by daring and determined Ghanaians, have been nurtured and supported – living testimonies that when government believes in its youth, magic happens,” he said.

Beyond Adwumawura, NEIP plans to roll out several complementary programmes, including a Presidential Innovation Challenge to promote STEM and green entrepreneurship, and a Vice-Presidential Empowerment Programme targeting women and persons with disabilities.

Additional initiatives include a Student Enterprise Initiative, Youth in Innovative Agriculture projects, the Presidential School Garden Initiative, and a Streetism to Entrepreneurship project aimed at rehabilitating vulnerable youth.

Mr Adjei called for strong collaboration from development partners and the private sector, stressing that the success of the programme would depend on collective action.

“We need your collaboration. We need your resources. We need your faith – because together, we can unleash a movement that will define Ghana’s economic future for decades to come,” he said.

The NEIP chief praised President Mahama for his unwavering belief in Ghana’s youth, saying the Adwumawura Programme would empower young Ghanaians to move from “chasing jobs” to “creating them”.

“The future is entrepreneurship. The future is innovation. The future is now,” Mr Adjei said.