GWYESCO to bridge skills gap, boost youth employment

The Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion (GWYESCO) programme will equip young people with industry-relevant skills to improve employment opportunities and economic inclusion.

Chief Executive Director of the Social Investment Fund, Nurudeen Abass, announced this at the launch of the Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion (GWYESCO) programme at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Wednesday.

He said the initiative was designed to address the growing mismatch between the skills possessed by many young people and the demands of the labour market.

“The number of young people who are not in education, employment, and training is on the rise due to the lack of market-relevant skills,” Mr. Abass said.

According to him, youth unemployment and underemployment continue to pose serious challenges to national development and social stability.

“Youth unemployment and underemployment remain among the greatest threats to economic progress and social stability,” he stated.

Mr. Abass explained that GWYESCO would respond directly to these challenges through targeted interventions aimed at preparing young people and women for sustainable employment.

“GWYESCO program responds directly to these realities by first promoting market-driven training for women and youth with industry-relevant skills,” he said.

The programme is a US$71.25 million flagship initiative supported by the African Development Bank Group and will run from 2026 to 2029.

It seeks to create jobs, promote economic inclusion, and strengthen community resilience among vulnerable populations across Ghana.

Beyond skills development, the programme will support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises owned by women and youth through access to seed capital, business development services, and assistance with formal business registration.

Mr. Abass said the initiative would also expand access to financial and non-financial services for women and youth-owned businesses to help them grow and create employment opportunities.

Particular attention will be given to vulnerable and underserved communities, especially in Northern Ghana, where economic exclusion often contributes to social tensions and instability.

He added that the programme would strengthen institutional capacity and support systems that ensure sustainable service delivery, accountability, and long-term benefits for women, youth, and their communities.