The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has launched a Junior Chamber at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) to equip students with practical business skills, mentorship, and private sector exposure aimed at addressing youth unemployment in Ghana.
Announcing the initiative in Accra, the Chamber said the UMaT-GNCCI Junior Chamber is the fourth chapter in its expanding national student entrepreneurship network, following earlier launches at the University of Ghana, Takoradi Technical University, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2025.
The programme is strategically targeted at UMaT, Ghana’s only university dedicated to mining and technology education, ensuring graduates are prepared to convert expertise in natural resources into viable enterprises. Through hands-on training, industry mentorship, and exposure to enterprise development, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academia and the business world.
“The initiative comes at a time when youth unemployment remains high, especially among recent graduates transitioning from school to work,” the Chamber stated. It added that students would also gain skills in technology-driven entrepreneurship and access to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area and international markets.
Mr. Ebenezer Cobbinah, Municipal Chief Executive of Tarkwa-Nsuaem, described the initiative as timely and essential for empowering young people to build sustainable businesses. Professor Lewis Brew, Dean of Students at UMaT, said the partnership would strengthen private sector linkages and enable graduates to transform knowledge of natural resources into profitable ventures.
Mr. Stéphane Abass Miezan, GNCCI President, urged students to focus on creating jobs rather than only seeking employment, noting that the Chamber plans to expand the Junior Chamber model to other tertiary institutions to cultivate a robust, private sector-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The programme underscores the importance of combining education, mentorship, and industry engagement to prepare Ghana’s youth for active participation in the country’s economic development, particularly in sectors critical to innovation and industrial growth.
