The government's YouStart initiative has benefited 26,626 people nationwide since it began last year, according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

The initiative seeks to offer participants coaching and mentoring services, as well as tools and skills for investment preparation.

“To equip participants with entrepreneurial skills, investment readiness tools as well as coaching and mentoring services under the YouStart initiative, 26,626 persons nationwide have received business advisory support services since its launch last year,” the minister said as he presented the 2023 mid-year budget review Monday, July 31, 2023.

The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme has also been active in providing funds to 30 Business and Innovation Hubs to support companies in local areas across the country.

Each Hub is obliged to help 20 start-ups and can get up to $180,000 USD. The minister also disclosed intentions to assist 15 new Hubs in establishing their presence across the nation in the second part of the year.

“We will continue to work with Participating Financial Institutions, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) and Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) to provide soft loans and managerial skills for the setting-up of youth-led enterprises,” he added.

In April 2023, the Hubs Acceleration Grant Program was introduced by the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme with assistance from the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP).