The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) of Ghana has signed a significant cooperation agreement with the German Development Agency (GIZ) to introduce the “Make Fashion Inclusive” programme, which aims to empower People with Disabilities (PWDs) through skills training and economic opportunities in the fashion sector.
Under the new initiative, YEA will provide targeted training to 50 PWDs, equipping them with essential skills for the fashion industry.
Participants will also receive support with a guaranteed market for their products and access to a shop to facilitate the sale of their goods, enhancing their economic independence.
YEA CEO Kofi Baah Agyepong emphasized the agency’s ongoing efforts to support PWDs, including establishing disability desks in all 266 YEA offices nationwide and recruiting 282 PWDs as district disability officers.
Agyepong described the programme as “a new dawn” for the agency’s commitment to creating decent jobs and promoting inclusivity.
The programme will also support existing fashion entrepreneurs and start-ups with training in business development, financial literacy, and skills enhancement, aiming to bolster their competitiveness in Ghana’s growing fashion sector.
Participants will benefit from modern electric sewing machines and access to a Skills and Fashion Hub, which will serve as a centre for innovation and collaboration in the fashion industry.
Wilhelm Hugo, Head of the Programme for GIZ’s Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition,” expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
“We want to create jobs for all persons, for all citizens,” Hugo said, highlighting the project’s potential to foster inclusive economic development and sustainable growth.
The two-year project will commence with a pilot training programme, and it plans to expand its reach over time.
The initiative reflects a shared commitment between YEA and GIZ to youth employment and empowerment, focusing on inclusivity and sustainable development.
The “Make Fashion Inclusive” programme aims to support PWDs and contribute to the expansion of Ghana’s fashion industry, creating a model for other sectors to emulate.
