Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has disclosed that the National Apprenticeship Programme is structured to be inclusive, with specific quotas set aside for marginalised populations.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, the Minister revealed that the programme is reserving 60% of its slots for women and 15% for persons with disabilities, as part of efforts to promote equitable access to vocational training.

“Women are a key component of what we are doing because they are mostly a marginalised group. Therefore, we are reserving a percentage of applications for women. We hope to achieve a maximum of 60% of the total applications from women and 15% for people living with disabilities to ensure that our initiative is inclusive for all marginalised individuals in our society,” he stated.

He clarified that while men are also encouraged to apply, greater participation is expected from women and individuals with disabilities to ensure a diverse and inclusive trainee pool.

“While we welcome applications from men, we hope to see more women apply so everyone is well represented. Additionally, we are including individuals within the galamsey [Illegal mining] enclave and those who are being rehabilitated from drug abuse so that they can create a better life for themselves,” he added.

Launched on March 19, the National Apprenticeship Programme is managed by the National Youth Authority (NYA) and focuses on delivering hands-on vocational and technical training. It also supports individuals recovering from substance abuse and those affected by illegal mining activities, offering them a renewed path toward sustainable livelihoods.