Accra, Jan 27, GNA – About 1,400 graduates have registered with the Graduate Business Support Scheme (GEBSS) to be given training in entrepreneurial skills and to have access to credit to open their own businesses.

About 10,000 unemployed graduates are projected to benefit from the scheme that is a public/private sector initiative that will take off this year.

Ms Enam Gbekor, the National Coordinator of the GEBSS, told the GNA in an interview that that the first batch of successful applicants would be taken through a business development phase to enable them to have the ability to spot opportunities to set up their own businesses.

Phase two involves 2,000 participants to be supported to produce good business plans that will attract funding from targeted sources.

Ms Gbekor said at the third level, 500 beneficiaries would be professionally guided and attached to local industries to gain experience including incubation support to set up their own businesses.

The final level, level four which is the ultimate, will involve 100 beneficiaries who will receive executive-level mentorship and overseas exposure and support to set up 100 trans-generational businesses in Ghana.

She said branches of the scheme had been opened in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale and Takoradi to make it easy for those interested in the programme to register.

The Tamale office will cater for applicants from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions, the Kumasi office will handle those from Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, the Takoradi office will take care of applicants from the Central and Western regions and the Accra office will take care of applicants from the Volta, Eastern and Greater Accra regions.