The Diaspora African Forum (DAF) and the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly have jointly launched the Diaspora African Forum Youth Empowerment Training Center (DAFYETC) in the La Dade Kotopon Municipality of Accra, Ghana. The official opening ceremony, which took place on January 7, 2022, was attended by esteemed guests of honor such as H.E Dr. Erieka Bennett, the Founder & Head of Mission of DAF, the Municipal Chief Executive of La Dade Kotopon, Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi, and the Minister for Communications & Digitalization, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
DAFYETC is primarily aimed at empowering Ghanaian youth, particularly in the field of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), by promoting skills training and development. DAF has established a digital call center, which will provide training in call center operations and job creation for certified trainees, and will be led by Mr. Kevin Williams and Mr. Mahar Cooke as Executive Director and Deputy Director, respectively.
The program is designed to equip young people with the necessary skills and confidence to achieve professional and personal success by offering workforce development training and education courses such as ICT, professionalism, effective communication, customer service, and workplace ethics. Participants in the program will have access to a safe and technologically advanced workspace, with computer access, reliable internet service, educational materials, and participant stipends.
The DAF aims to create unique opportunities for both the young people who enroll in this program and the businesses, governmental agencies, and other organizations that choose to partner with them. The program will not only provide valuable, transferable skills to aid participants in obtaining gainful employment but will also create jobs for them to transition into upon receipt of an official DAF certification.
The Minister for Communications & Digitalization expressed her sincere appreciation to DAF for initiating such a great project, which would eliminate unemployment and bridge the digital gap among the youths, especially the female child. She emphasized the importance of bridging the digital gap among the youth, particularly the female child, and eliminating unemployment. She also highlighted the potential benefits of the program for the participants, including creating a second stream of income for them, taking care of their families, and giving back to society.
The MCE-La Dade Kotopon; Hon. Solomon Kotey Nikoi stressed the importance of the training and how the municipality is set to support such an initiative. He urged the youth in the region, especially those within the La Dade Municipality, to take advantage of the proximity and location of the center to maximize the opportunities that abound in the Global Call industry and Information Technology and Communication, which drive the fourth Industrial Revolution.
H.E Dr. Erieka Bennett, the Founder & Head of Mission of DAF, anticipates doing great things in Ghana and the African Union and invites individuals and organizations to support this effort by contacting them directly through the phone number and email address provided. With Africa having the youngest population, the DAF aims to put them in a position to not only dream big but also achieve big.
The DAF and the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly look forward to receiving support from all stakeholders to enable the center to meet the financial and logistical commitments associated with training. The success of the center will translate into local economic development not only for the municipality but also for the region and Ghana as a whole.