The Nneka Youth Foundation, in collaboration with the Afadzato South District Assembly, has organised a Financial Inclusion, Business and Investment Forum for artisans in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region. The forum, themed “Your hands create the value; now let’s build the business behind it,” was held on September 24, 2026, at the Nneka Youth Development Centre at Ve-Agbome. The event brought together artisans from various trade associations across the district.
The forum focused on access to finance, business development, investment opportunities, skills development and financial literacy for artisans in the informal sector. It was organised in partnership with Suncity Farms Limited, GCB Bank PLC, Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service. Dignitaries from the District Assembly, financial institutions, traditional authorities and youth groups attended the event.
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afadzato South, Mr Manfred Tawiah, commended the Nneka Youth Foundation for the initiative, saying it would enhance craft work and youth employability. He recognised the role of artisans in local economic development and assured them of the Assembly's commitment to creating an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
Mr Tawiah urged participants to take advantage of digital platforms and free Wi-Fi to market their products beyond their local area. He advised them to use the internet as a business tool, rather than just for social media entertainment. The DCE also disclosed that the Assembly was working to accelerate development projects in the district.
A total of 20 projects were expected to be commissioned by the end of September, with 50 more to be commissioned by December 2026. Mr Tawiah encouraged apprentices and artisans to venture into agriculture as an additional source of income and to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods.
Founder and Executive Director of the Nneka Youth Foundation, Madam Cecilia Fiaka, urged participants to value their skills, saying artisans were essential to community development. She appealed to corporate organisations, financial institutions and other stakeholders to support such initiatives, which created room for dialogue and problem-solving for youth in the informal sector.
The forum featured various speakers, including a representative of the Member of Parliament for Afadzato South, Mr Kelvin Kokroko, and Volta Regional Director of the Ghana TVET Service, Mr Christian Agorda. Madam Fiaka expressed her satisfaction with the large turnout of participants, which demonstrated the need for such engagements. The Foundation plans to create more platforms to link artisans to finance, markets and mentorship to grow their businesses.
Key points
- The forum aimed to enhance access to finance and business development for artisans in the informal sector.
- The event was organised in partnership with several institutions, including GCB Bank PLC and Ghana TVET Service.
- The District Assembly is working to accelerate development projects in the district, with 20 projects expected to be commissioned by the end of September.
