The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (NABOCADO), the development wing of the Catholic Church in the Upper East Region, has launched a skill and enterprise project for the youth to help reduce unemployment in the Region.

The Catholic Mission of Australia is sponsoring the One Million Ghana Cedis project, aimed at assisting the youth with employable skills and knowledge to augment the traditional farming activities, reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.

The project, would revamp agriculture such as fishery, piggery, rabbit and poultry farming in the area, train the youth in entrepreneurial, agro-based and hospitality services.

It would also renovate and refurbish the Youth Skills and Entrepreneurial Centre at Vea.

Dr Joseph Ayembilla, the Human Development Coordinator of NABOCADO, who launched the project at Sandema in the Bulisa North District of the Upper East Region, explained that the youth formed about 45 percent of the about two million congregations in the Diocese.

But they were faced with numerous challenges such as lack of entrepreneurial skills, low education, unemployment, low self-esteem and drug abuse among others, which the project sought to address.

“The project which will run from 2018-2020 would benefit 720 youth directly and 4,320 indirectly. This would give them gainful employment and skills, help reduce poverty in the Diocese and ensure food and livelihood security among the youth.”

Dr Ayembilla, however, noted that the support was an investment that the youth needed to put to good use in order to pay back.

He commended the Catholic Mission of Australia for the assistance and Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese for his effort at securing the funds.

The event coincided with the celebration of World Youth Day in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, and brought together about 380 youth from all the parishes in the Diocese. It was on the theme: “Do Not be Afraid, Mary; For You Have Found Favour with God.”

Reverend Father Clement Ajongba, the Diocesan Youth and Vocation Chaplain, said youth development was a priority of the Church, and urged the elders to assist the youth who were the leaders of every nation.

He called on other churches to set aside a percentage of their annual budget for youth development.



Reverend Father Linus Anaba Bugran, the Bishop of the Diocese, in a speech read on his behalf, admonished the youth to avoid portraying false identity, especially on social media to attract attention and rather submit themselves to the will of God and seek His blessing.

He said the increase in social vices such as armed robbery, prostitution, money rituals and educational malpractices among the youth were as a result of the absence of the fear of God in the youth.

He said Church leaders had critical roles in inspiring the youth to be responsible in society.