The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) has formally proposed a national partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment to expand its flagship initiative, the Young Entrepreneurs Leave Initiative (YELI). This took place during a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Accra.
Welcomed by the Ministry’s Director for Finance and Administration, the GCYE delegation presented a compelling case for state support to scale YELI across the public sector. The initiative, launched as a pilot in the private sector, offers young employees the opportunity to take structured, unpaid leave to develop startup ventures while maintaining job security.
President of the Chamber, who led the delegation, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and congratulated the Minister on his appointment. He outlined GCYE’s work, including its nationwide reach, support for over 19,000 young people through training, capacity-building, and access to grant funding.
“YELI is not just a programme—it’s a national opportunity to harness the entrepreneurial potential of Ghana’s youth,” he stated. “The pilot alone supported 50 entrepreneurs and created over 120 jobs. We believe scaling this initiative through the Ministry can create 1,500 new jobs over the next three years.”
The Chamber is requesting the Ministry’s endorsement, coordination, and funding support to expand the programme into a nationwide model. GCYE also announced its readiness to collaborate with stakeholders including development partners, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector.
In his remarks, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo lauded the initiative and praised the Chamber for its bold vision. He emphasized the importance of promoting entrepreneurship as a viable career path for young people, particularly those within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) space.
“We must create space for the creativity of our youth,” the Minister said. “It is not enough for them to seek government jobs—they must be encouraged and supported to build businesses, create employment, and grow Ghana’s economy.”
He welcomed the proposed collaboration and requested a formal submission outlining the Chamber’s expectations and areas for support. Dr. Pelpuo reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to innovative partnerships that empower young people.
