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Mankessim – In a bid to provide skill training for the youth, the Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation (OFAF) was officially launched, culminating in the graduation of 55 artisans from its maiden training programme.
Held under the theme “The Future Is Handmade,” the event at Mankessim in the Central Region on Saturday, December 27, 2025, highlighted the importance of craftsmanship, vocational education, and hands-on skills in promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.
The ceremony attracted a distinguished gathering of traditional authorities, political leaders, Christian clergy, and representatives of Islamic missions, reflecting broad-based support for skills development as a tool for community transformation.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of the Foundation and Deputy Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Fatimah Amoadu, recounted that OFAF was established in Accra about ten years ago but later relocated its operations to the Ekumfi Traditional Area to directly support the local community.
“This foundation started in Accra about ten years ago, but it was important to bring it home to Ekumfi to support my own people and help them build sustainable livelihoods,” she said.
A native of Ekumfi Immuna and Srafa, Amoadu explained that her decision to return home was driven by a desire to empower young people, particularly girls, through sustainable skills training rather than short-term support.
“Our focus has always been on teaching young girls how to fish rather than giving them fish,”she explained. “When you equip someone with a skill, you give them dignity, independence, and a future.”
She disclosed that 100 girls from Ekumfi were enrolled in an artisanal training programme four years ago, of whom 55 have now successfully graduated, while the remaining trainees are still undergoing instruction.
The trainees received instruction in hairdressing, fashion design, and baking, equipping them with employable skills for sustainable livelihoods. To further support them in launching their vocations, Amoadu presented the graduates with sewing machines, hair dryers, gas ovens, and other start-up items.
The Paramount Queen of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Benyiwa VI, commended Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu for her initiative and investment in human capital development.
“What our daughter has done is wonderful,”she said. “We ask God’s blessings upon her life so that whatever she touches will prosper.”
Nana Benyiwa VI urged the graduates to make good use of the opportunity. “To the graduates, what you have received is a great opportunity. Use it to work so that others will also benefit from you,” she advised.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Ekumfi Srafa and Sumankwahen of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Nyeiku VII, appealed to the foundation to consider including boys in future skills training programmes. “When you look at the beneficiaries, they are not fairly balanced,” Nana observed. “There’s no boy amongst them. I suggest boys must be considered in subsequent programmes.”
Representing the Central Regional Coordinator for the Apprenticeship Programme, the Deputy Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kojo Gyamfi, described the OFAF training initiative as being in line with the vision of a Mahama-led government, which seeks to train between one and five million youths in various skill sets nationwide.
“Youth unemployment can only be tackled when skills development is prioritised,” he emphasised. “Initiatives like this play a critical role in complementing government efforts.”
He underscored that the foundation’s activities align perfectly with the government’s vision to train youth with employable skills to ameliorate unemployment in Ghana.
Appealing for more such opportunities, Mr. Gyamfi urged well-meaning Ghanaians to emulate and replicate the efforts of Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu in their respective communities, noting that private initiatives remain crucial in complementing government empowerment programmes.
The launch and graduation ceremony marked a major milestone for the Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation, reinforcing the role of vocational skills and community-driven initiatives in tackling youth unemployment. With plans to expand its training programmes, the Foundation is poised to continue empowering more young people in Ekumfi and across the Central Region through practical skills development and entrepreneurship.
By Kwaku Afriyie
