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More Ghanaian youth to acquire employable skills – Dr Bawumia
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has described the successful training of thousands of Ghanaian youth under the first phase of the Youth Employment Agency’s Skills Training Programme as concrete evidence of the NPP Government’s commitment to providing opportunities for the youth to acquire employable skills for life.
The training of these 10,000 young people in Carpentry, Beauty Care, Hairdressing, Plumbing, Auto Mechanics, Plaster of Paris (POP), Painting, Steel Works and Welding, and Glazing (Glass Works) – who received allowances during their training and have also received start-up equipment – comes on the heels of the recent training of thousands of ladies under the Kayayei Empowerment programme, as well as formal training under the Free Technical Vocational Training (FTVET) and digital training offered by facilities such as the Accra Digital Centre.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony of the 10,000 YEA-trained artisans at Techiman in the Bono East Region on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Dr Bawumia reiterated the NPP Government’s appreciation of the key role played by the youth in national development, and envisioned the creation of even more training and job opportunities under the ongoing digitalization agenda.
“Some few years ago, I was privileged to be the Guest Speaker at Legon when YEA first launched the Job Centre together with the Artisan Directory, a skill development program designed to build the capacity of artisans and to train new ones to meet current global requirements of the artisanal industry,” he said.
According to him, “Today, I am happy to be part of this ceremony not because I was present at the birth of this Great initiative in October, 2019 but largely because of the anticipated socio- economic and cyclical impact of these new artisans to the growth and development of Ghana, the Ecowas Sub Region, Africa and the world as a whole.”
“This pool of talented artisans in rows before us this morning, presents varying opportunities for us to expand and develop the sector for the growth of our nation. Ladies and Gentlemen, the artisanal industry is the oldest livelihood job in Ghana for centuries and still remains the powerful Economic engine to absorb more people seeking sustainable job opportunities,” he emphasized.
“Barely three months ago, I joined YEA in a Grand event in Accra to launch the Kayayei Empowerment programme in Madina. I am happy to state that thousands of young women through that Programme have graduated with various skilled jobs in Detergent and Soap Making, Beading and Jewelry, Makeup Artistry, Pedicure and Manicure, Baking and Decoration. More Kayayei are currently undergoing training in Madina and Ashaiman and would soon be graduating into the world of work,” he announced.
Dr Bawumia commended the leadership of the Youth Employment Programme for being abreast with the changing dynamics of the work environment, setting up a Job Centre to link applicants with jobs and creating a soon-to-be launched App to provide the location and contact of the 10,000 graduates across the country to make accessing their services easier.
According to him,“Since we assumed office in 2017, the NPP Government had in the priority of things embarked on the digitalization agenda to cover some if not all key sectors of the economy. Indeed, leveraging on the technological potentials of Ghana in the digital marketing space, YEA is gradually becoming digitally inclined and had taken several steps forward in providing innovative solutions to the modern-day problems affecting the artisanal landscape in Ghana.”
“YEA has been very instrumental in the Agenda for Jobs of the NPP Government through roll outs of traditional modules, entrepreneurial modules and artisanal modules. The YEA Job Centre also connects job seekers to employers online and had facilitated the recruitment of thousands of young men and women into the private sector and NGO jobs in the country. Today, YEA has broadened its partnership with the private sector under the Business and Employment Assistant Programme and has provided human resource assistance to many certified small and medium scale enterprises across the country,” he said.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the Presidential Candidate of the NPP for the 2024 elections, challenged the fresh graduates to continually seek knowledge and further skills, saying “Your training comes with a prize- a prize of distinguishing yourselves as credible Artisans not only in molding products and providing services to your clients but credibility which hinges on character, hard work and transparency in your career journey.
He said, “As you transition into the world of work, never feel secured and technically efficient because you have been certified to work as an Aluminum Fabricator or Carpenter but aspire to take opportunities to build your capacities.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, Kofi Baah Agyapong, commended the newly-trained youth for their dedication and perseverance, especially those from under-privileged backgrounds, and charged them to be role models worth emulating.
“I am highly elated to see so many happy faces here today, given where many of you have come from and the challenges you have faced. I urge you to grab this opportunity to be outstanding citizens with both hands and run with it. Being the first batch, I ask that you practice your newly-acquired skills in a manner that would encourage Ghanaians to patronize your services and attract many more youth to acquire employable skills,” he concluded.
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God Almighty is incomparable to the Universe – It is an error to reference God as His creation
I have heard people liken God Almighty to the universe. Some have often referred to Him as the universe. It has become a norm in the circular world to reference God Almighty as the universe.
For instance, pop culture has equated or replaced God with the universe, and this has become a normal thing, used in traditional and social media posts. Individual narratives that require the mention of a higher power or authority will usually invoke the universe as that power.
Often, most celebrities from all spheres of life praise the universe for the good things that happen to them and also direct their fear to the universe as paying them back for their bad choices. When things don’t go their way, they wonder if the universe is teaching them a lesson or simply has other plans (Szterszky, 2018).
Even professing Christians at times speak of the universe rewarding or punishing them, or else teaching them a lesson instead of referencing God Almighty. Some pray to the universe instead of God.
Biblically, equating or referencing God to the Universe is an error. God is much higher and bigger than the universe because He created the universe. This article examines some biblical scriptures that highlight this error.
The universe is everything that exist anywhere and forms part of God’s creation. The synonyms for the universe include population, existence, creation, world, cosmos and macrocosm. These are the handiworks of God and should not be equated to God.
On the other hand, God Almighty is the creator, not a creation, he created the world, the cosmos, the terrestrial beings and we cannot trade His glory with that of His creation. It is an error that needs to be corrected (Genesis 1:1-31).
God is the ultimate and eternal creator, while the universe is seen as a vast and finite creation. God is generally considered to be beyond the universe, encompassing it and existing independently, while the universe is viewed as a product of God’s creation and subject to the laws of nature and time.
While God is described as infinite, omnipresent, omnipotent, and eternal, His attributes show that He exists outside of the universe and is not a part of the physical world. God is the creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. God is believed to have created the universe from nothing and continues to maintain its existence and order. John 1:1-5).
The universe on the other hand, is viewed as a finite, physical system governed by natural laws. It is seen as a product of God’s creation and subject to the constraints of space and time. Science explores the natural laws and processes that govern the universe. While science explains to some extent how the universe works, it has not been able to address the existence or nature of God.
The following scriptures explain the attributes of God that distinguishes Him from His creation.
The book of Colossians 1:15-20(AMP) says of Jesus, the Incomparable Christ:
15. “He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
16. For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.
17. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] [Proverbs 8:22-31]
18. He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything. [1 Corinthians 15:20]
19. For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son),
20. and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.
In the book of Romans 1: 19 – 28 (AMP) it is said:
19 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them.
20 For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps. 19: 1-4.]
21 Because when they knew and recognised Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].
23 And by them the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God were exchanged for and represented by images, resembling mortal man and birds and beasts and reptiles.
24 Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their [own] hearts to sexual impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin],
25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it). [Jer. 2:11.]
26 For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions. For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one,
27 And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another–men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution.
28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome,
We cannot trade the glory of God with that of His creation. If you must give glory to God, do so and don’t equate it to the universe. The universe by itself cannot do anything for you. It is under the control of the Supreme Being, God Almighty who created it and controls it. God will not trade His glory for anything because He is All in All.
Recognise God and His divinity, deity and authority and give Him the honour due Him. It is either God to whom you give honour or something else. When you are tempted to equate good things, remember it should be to God Almighty and not to the universe. May God give us all understanding of who He is and that we know Him for ourselves.
End.
Rev. Dr R. Esi Asante is an Assistant Pastor at the Upcity Church International in Accra. She is also a lecturer with the Faculty of Management at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
By Rev. Dr R. Esi Asante (PhD)
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Ashanti Regional REGSEC bans use of motorbikes after 7pm until further notice
The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council has expressed its deep sorrow over the death of Alhaji Abdul-Malik Azenbge, the Chief of Kusaase, who was shot and killed at Asewase on Tuesday, 22nd July 2025.
In reaction to this tragic incident, the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, 24th July 2025 to assess the situation and take immediate action to maintain peace in the region.
After the meeting, REGSEC announced that motorbikes would no longer be allowed on the roads after 7:00pm until further notice.
In a press release signed by the Ashanti regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene made it clear that the use of unlicensed motorbikes or those without lights was strictly prohibited.
Additionally, they ordered an immediate suspension of the inter-tribal football competition that was ongoing in the region.
Another measure announced was a temporary ban on motorbike riders wearing smocks. According to REGSEC, some individuals have been using smocks to hide weapons, and this posed a serious security threat.
To ensure public safety and prevent further violence, REGSEC said there would be a strong security presence in identified hotspot areas.
It indicated that both police officers and military personnel would be deployed to help protect lives and property.
The Council assured the public of the government’s firm commitment to maintaining law and order.
They noted that everything was being done to find and arrest those responsible for the killing of the chief.
They called on the general public to cooperate with security agencies and share any credible information that could help with investigations. REGSEC emphasized that they remain fully committed to their mandate of keeping the region safe and peaceful.
By Jacob Aggrey
