James Gunu Launches First Disbursement of Volta Youth Development Fund, Awards GH¢10,000 to 10 Young Entrepreneurs

James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has overseen the first disbursement of the Volta Youth Development Fund, with 10 young entrepreneurs each receiving GH¢10,000 in seed capital under a flagship initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment and accelerating enterprise development across the region.

The Fund, launched on 7 March 2026, forms the centrepiece of Mr. Gunu’s youth empowerment agenda. It is designed to provide not only financial support but also mentorship and business development opportunities to help young entrepreneurs establish sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and contributing to the Volta Region’s economic transformation.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Gunu said the initiative seeks to unlock the entrepreneurial potential of the region’s youth by removing one of the biggest barriers to business growth—access to finance—while fostering innovation and self-employment.

The Minister commended the Fund’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Togbe Komla Sakpiti V, and the Fund Administrator, Mr. Stephen D. K. Timinca, for their stewardship in ensuring the transparent implementation of the programme.

He urged beneficiaries to invest the grants responsibly, expand their businesses and create employment opportunities for others, expressing confidence that the first cohort would become role models whose success would encourage more young people to pursue entrepreneurship.

Mr. Gunu also appealed to corporate organisations, development partners, philanthropists and members of the Volta diaspora to support the Fund’s expansion, arguing that broader public-private collaboration would enable the initiative to reach many more aspiring entrepreneurs across the region.

The initial disbursement marks the operational rollout of a programme that regional authorities view as a long-term investment in youth-led enterprise, with entrepreneurship positioned as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, employment creation and sustainable development in the Volta Region.