The YALI Regional Leadership Center (RLC) West Africa, Accra has completed the onsite training of 108 young Africans in leadership skills. The three-week onsite training, dubbed Cohort 43, brought together participants from nine countries within the sub region.
At the closing ceremony for the cohort, Project Director of the YALI Accra RLC, Dr. Esi E. Sey, encouraged participants of Cohort 43 to stay the course as they progress to the post training phase of YALI training. In all, 108 participants, comprising 58 female and 50 male, have over the past three weeks, exhibited, built on, and improved on their leadership skills to impact other young people within their communities, organisations and countries. YALI provides the opportunity for young people to interact, network and improve their leadership skills while reflecting on the challenges facing the continent and possible innovative solutions available to mitigate such challenges.
Rector of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), implementing institution of the YALI Accra RLC, Prof. Samuel K. Bonsu, underscored GIMPA’s appreciation of USAID support for the YALI program through the Accra RLC. “GIMPA remains committed to the success and sustainability of the Accra RLC”, Prof. Bonsu stressed, adding that “GIMPA is therefore geared up to collaborate further with USAID to train even more young people across the sub region”
Prof. Bonsu delivers GIMPA’s remarks at the closing ceremony
Deputy Mission Director of USAID West Africa, Mr. Greg Howell, congratulated participants of Cohort 43, while highlighting USAID’s commitment to the YALI project since its inception. Mr. Howell outlined USAID’s support for YALI participants and alumni alike over the years, through the provision of various resources for the training and development of participants and alumni of the Center.
Mr. Howell outlines USAID’s support for YALI participants and alumni
USAID, according to Mr. Howell, “has provided funding support of about $44,000 to 23 alumni under the YALI Accra RLC Community Engagement Fund, with which Alumni are currently implementing various community level activities and initiatives to improve and impact lives across the sub region”. Winners of the fund, which is competitive, and administered by a review committee, are implementing initiatives to sensitize rural women to their rights and help reduce teenage pregnancy, and training and equipping young people, including rural women, with employable skills to earn some livelihood among other initiatives.
“Through support for the Center as well as opportunities such as the Community Engagement Fund, Chapter Matching Grant, Alumni Excellence Awards and other opportunities, USAID continues to strengthen participants and alumni of the Accra RLC to development personally and professionally in ensuring that they impact their communities, businesses and countries”, Mr Howell concluded.
Participants were trained in one of the three YALI tracks of Public Management, Civic Leadership and Business and Entrepreneurship and will now undertake post training activities before graduating from the program.