The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a Junior Chamber at the University of Mines and Technology to equip students with entrepreneurial skills.
A statement issued by the Chamber in Accra said the initiative sought to address youth unemployment by preparing students in Ghana’s mining and technology sector with practical business knowledge, mentorship and private sector exposure.
It said the UMaT-GNCCI Junior Chamber was the fourth chapter in the Chamber’s expanding national student entrepreneurship network, following similar launches at Takoradi Technical University and University of Ghana in 2025, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
The statement said the inclusion of UMaT was strategic as Ghana’s only university dedicated to mining and technology education, placing its graduates at the center of the country’s natural resource economy.
It said the programme aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry through hands-on training, market-relevant skills, and lifelong learning.
“The initiative comes at a time when youth unemployment in Ghana remains high, particularly among recent graduates facing challenges transitioning from school to work,” it added.
The statement said the GNCCI Junior Chamber would provide structured entrepreneurial training delivered by the Chamber and its business community to enhance students’ job market readiness.
It said the programme would also offer industry-led mentorship, networking opportunities and exposure to enterprise development, including training 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 the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, described the initiative as timely and essential for empowering young people.
He said Ghana’s economy depended on a new generation of entrepreneurs who understood industry, embraced technology and built sustainable businesses.
Professor Lewis Brew, Dean of Students at UMaT, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the partnership.
He said the University aimed to produce graduates capable of transforming knowledge of natural resources into viable enterprises, adding that the Junior Chamber would provide the needed private sector linkages.
Mr. Stéphane Abass Miezan, President of the GNCCI, said the initiative was a national platform designed to connect students directly to Ghana’s business community.
He urged students to focus on creating jobs rather than solely seeking employment, and said the Chamber planned to expand the Junior Chamber model to other tertiary institutions to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem driven by academia and private sector collaboration.