Entertainment
Youstart Kicks Off April: Pilots Successful- Ofori-Atta
The government is pursuing a policy direction to create an enterprise-driven economy to generate jobs for the teeming youth, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has stated.
For that reason, he said, it would continue to strengthen the links between education and job market stakeholders and provide access to finance, skills and markets for young entrepreneurs, so that the private sector would be well resourced.
The minister said in the face of Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) findings that 1.5 million people, out of the 11.5 million economically active population, were unemployed, the government had responded with YouStart, a comprehensive initiative to provide an effective solution to Ghana’s youth unemployment challenge.
At a business pitch in Accra on Wednesday, March 2,2022, organised as the final part of the pilot phase of the YouStart programme, Mr Ofori-Atta said the initiative, which would start from next month, would create about one million jobs for the youth in the next three years.
The GSS estimates the unemployment rate among the population 15 years and older at 13.4 per cent.
Background
YouStart, the government’s flagship youth entrepreneurship support programme, will take off next month after the programme was successfully piloted in the northern and the southern sectors of the country.
The northern sector had its pilot in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, while in the southern sector it was piloted in Accra.
The initiative is expected to be a vehicle for supporting young entrepreneurs to gain access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them to launch and operate their own businesses.
The pilot was to test the overall feasibility of the initiative and its potential impact.
The implementing agencies brought the beneficiaries of the pilot programme from across their regional zones.
The participants received training and funding support to enable them to scale up and expand their businesses.
Business pitch
The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) will implement YouStart with up to GH¢10 billion government funding.
The pilot pitch event in Accra provided a platform for beneficiaries of the pilot, such as the IoT Network Hub, Packway Ghana Limited, SheaMe and many others drawn from all five zones of the country and from sectors such as agribusiness and technology, to pitch their business ideas and demonstrate how government support for their businesses will help create opportunities for the youth of the country.
Ken Ofori-Atta (5th from left), Dr John Kumah (6th from left), his deputy, with other dignitaries after the business pitch
Present at the event were the two Deputy ministers of Finance, Dr John Ampontuah Kumah and Abena Osei Asare, key government officials from the Ministry of Finance, as well as representatives from the GEA and the NEIP.
Rising unemployment
Mr Ofori-Atta said the country’s unemployment rate was inching up, occasioned in part by the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, he said, the government had put in place measures, including the YouStart programme, to address the concern.
Mr Ofori-Atta explained that the programme was expected to remove the primary impediment to the growth of enterprises in the country and improve access to credit by young Ghanaian entrepreneurs who were in need of support to start or expand their businesses.
“So, today, the government is acting with a plan that gives our people confidence to pursue their ambitions. Our strategy is a simple one — back hardworking people, create local businesses and support existing ones,” the finance minister stated.
Modalities
YouStart is meant to support start-ups with founders under 35 years, university and high school leavers with unique and innovative ideas and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) run by the youth.
Specifically, YouStart will support youth-led enterprises with soft loans of up to GH¢50,000 to help start-ups (in particular by young graduates and school leavers) and small businesses to expand.
Others will also get starter packs (soft loans tied to equipment acquisition) of up to GH¢50,000 for individuals and GH¢100,000 for associations and groups and a standardised loan package of between GH¢100,000 and GH¢400,000 at concessional rates for SMEs from the financial services sector.
Additionally, it will provide skills development, entrepreneurial support and business advisory services for young businesses, provide access to competitive credit and starter packs and create access to markets for businesses, including portals to facilitate “digital linkages” between youth-led enterprises and other businesses and relevant government agencies.
How to take part
A website will be announced at the launch of the programme next month to receive applications from potential beneficiaries.
Applicants can also walk into any of the offices of the GEA, the NEIP and any of the partner financial institutions to pick up forms to apply.
Source: graphiconline.com
Ghanaian casting director Mawuko Kuadzi has etched his name in the country’s film history, becoming the first-ever winner of the newly introduced Best Casting Director category at the 15th Ghana Movie Awards (GMA) held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
The star-studded ceremony, which attracted a host of Ghanaian and African celebrities, saw Mawuko Kuadzi take home the historic award for his work on the film The Fisherman.
He beat fellow nominees Naomi Osei Mensah (King of Tema), Frank Rajah (Virgin of the Throne), and the duo Rawdrick Lartey Junior and Omar Krupp (Ghana Map).
The category, introduced for the first time in the awards’ 15-year history, mirrors a similar addition by the Academy Awards (Oscars) and celebrates the critical role of casting directors as the “Human Resource Managers” of the creative economy.
Mawuko Kuadzi’s win comes on the heels of groundbreaking international achievements. In 2025 and again in 2026, he became the first African in 40 years to win the prestigious ARTIOS Award from the Casting Society of America (CSA), firmly placing Ghana on the global casting map.
His international acclaim also led the Ghana Leadership Awards to create and bestow upon him the Best Casting Director honor in 2024.
Observers note that this progression sends a powerful message: when a professional consistently delivers excellence, industry bodies are compelled to take notice and create platforms to honor that contribution.
The biggest honor of the evening, Best Picture, went to Sukura, a production that also featured an executive producer in a lead role.
The film King of Tema took home the Best Editing award, while The Fisherman, which earned Mawuko Kuadzi his historic casting award also won Best Visual Effect. Several veteran actors and rising stars were also celebrated across various categories.
The red carpet at the Kempinski Hotel was a spectacular affair, drawing a who is who of Ghanaian and African entertainment.
Among the Ghanaian stars who graced the event were Fred Amugi, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, Nana Ama McBrown, Kweku Manu, Dr Likee, Juliet Ibrahim, Salma Mumin, Hajia4Reall, AJ Poundz, Ahuofe Patri, Charly DGH, and James Gardiner.
Nigerian representation was strong, with actors Deyemi Okanlawon, Daniel Etim Effiong, and celebrated filmmaker Kunle Afolayan all walking the red carpet, underscoring the deepening creative ties between Ghana and Nigeria.
A major highlight was an emotional tribute to legendary highlife musician Daddy Lumba, veteran actress Beverly Afaglo, and Nigerian actor Alexx Ekubo, with a cross-border performance that moved the audience.
The National Film Authority used the platform to urge stakeholders to contribute to a film industry fund, signaling a push for greater financial and institutional backing for the sector
The leadership of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), present at the ceremony, praised the Ghana Movie Awards for its forward-looking approach.
“The Ghana Movie Awards is holding the fort for the creative economy,” a chamber spokesperson said. “Film is the mother industry. Any initiative that sustains the film sector multiplies jobs across the entire economy.”
With his maiden GMA win, Mawuko Kuadzi has
now achieved a rare triple: Ghana Leadership Awards honoree (2024), two-time ARTIOS winner (2025, 2026), and now the first ever Best Casting Director at the Ghana Movie Awards.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Blood Crew, a Ghanaian contemporary gospel music group based in Kumasi, celebrated its 10th anniversary in ministry with a special cake-cutting ceremony during the Grace Concert held at Gracefields Chapel, Havlah Temple, Ahodwo.
The celebration formed part of the group’s annual live recording event, ‘The Blood Effect’, which brought together thousands of worshippers, gospel music lovers, ministers, and invited guests for an unforgettable night of worship and live music recording.
The anniversary cake was officially cut by the Founder and Music Director of the group, David Nana Bonsu, popularly known as Nana Quophi, together with Rev. Simon Ampofo, shortly after the first session of live recordings featuring newly composed songs and selected old compilations.
The ceremony was witnessed by alumni members, current team members, invited gospel artistes, instrumentalists, management, and worshippers who gathered to celebrate the milestone achievement of the ministry.
The occasion marked 10 years of The Blood Crew’s contribution to gospel music ministry, worship, fellowship, evangelism, mentorship, and youth impact through music.
Members of the group used the opportunity to reflect on their journey over the years and expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the ministry and helping them remain impactful.
The event featured ministrations from UK-based Ghanaian gospel artiste Emmanuel Gyamfi, Pastor Edwin Dadson, Team Eternity Ghana, Manuel Tuffour, Joshua Ahenkorah, and Yefter Nkansah.
The group described the anniversary celebration as a moment of thanksgiving, reflection, and renewed commitment to continue impacting lives through gospel music and worship ministry.
Over the years, The Blood Crew’s annual ‘The Blood Effect’ live recording event has grown into a recognized platform for worship, spiritual impact, and gospel music ministry in Kumasi and beyond.
This year’s edition uniquely combined live recordings with the group’s 10th anniversary celebration, making it one of the most memorable editions since the ministry began.
By Spectator Reporter
