The Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) has appealed to the government to support its apprenticeship programme, citing financial constraints that prevent many trained apprentices from practicing the trade.
According to the association, the high cost of start-up kits has forced several trained apprentices to abandon the profession after graduation.
The Upper East Regional President of GHABA, Rebecca Goloo, revealed that out of more than 1,391 apprentices trained over the years, many are unable to set up their businesses due to lack of financial resources.
Speaking to the media during the graduation ceremony for 39 apprentices over the weekend, Madam Goloo urged the government to intervene by providing start-up kits and other forms of support to graduating trainees.
She noted that the inability of apprentices to practice the trade defeats the purpose of the training programme, which aims to create employment opportunities and reduce rural-urban migration.
Madam Goloo explained that some trained apprentices migrate to southern Ghana in search of menial jobs because they cannot afford the tools needed to start their businesses.
“We have been in this business for 54 years now in the Upper East Region, and we have a lot of challenges. That’s because we train the young ones, and we find some of them going back to the market to carry things and sell, and some run to Accra and Kumasi to go and do Kayayoo and this is not helpful.”
She therefore called on the government and other stakeholders to support trainees so they can fully utilize the skills they have acquired.
“So, I want to appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to help establish trainees who graduate in terms of finance because our equipment is expensive, and it is making it difficult for the young ladies to establish themselves. If they can help so that when we have a graduation like this, we support them to set up,” she appealed.
