Artisans Association of Ghana (AAG) has launched a novelty interactive website to enhance collaboration between members and the general public.

The website, “www.artisansghana.org”, would link profiled, listed and experienced master craftsmen and young artisans including electricians, painters, plumbers, carpenters, aluminum fabricators among others to jobs throughout the country.

With its job-matching functionalities, the website provides registered members the opportunity to be exposed to the job-market through the internet.

Speaking at a press conference to launch the website at the weekend, Mr Gideon Bidoh, President of the Association, said with the new website, estate developers, home owners and organisations in need of artisanal services, now have a platform to select well trained and experienced artisans to work with.

He said the Association, which started in 2011 has a vision to provide over 20,000 youth in the informal sector with employment by 2020.

Mr Bidoh further noted that aside providing job-matching services to artisans, the Association also seeks to encourage professionalism and high ethical standards for artisan in the construction sector.

“The Association ensures training, standardisation and certification of skills to meet new trends and requirements and promote a regime of safety standards, compliance and measurement to reduce work place related injuries and health concerns among construction sector artisans”, he said.

Plans, he added were far advanced to extend its activities from Greater Accra and Volta regions to the Western and Ashanti Regions.

Mr Emmanuel Korsah, the Board Chairman of the Association, said the creation of the website was appropriate as artisans would further improve their competencies and expertise with the opportunities it provides.

He noted that AAG was working to establish a uniform system for engaging apprentices and seek low-cost access to tools and equipment for members.

Madam Marie Vanderpuye, the Programmes Officer of Global Communities, a US-based international NGO, said her outfit was working with the AAG and four other consortium members under the Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment (YIEDIE) programme, to create economic opportunities in Ghana’s construction sector for disadvantaged youth.

YIEDIE, she explained would directly reach out to at least 23,700 youth with training in technical and entrepreneurial skills leading to employment.