Govt to assist vocational trainees with equipment

Gomoa Adaa (C/R), Oct 18, GNA - The Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment is to assist beneficiaries of the Skills Training and Employment Placement Programme (STEP) who successfully complete their courses with workshop space, plant and equipment to enhance their careers.

Mr John Yaw Amankrah, Director of Research, Statistics and Vocational Training of the Ministry, said this when he addressed the graduation ceremony of 30 STEP trainees at the Gomoa Adaa Vocational Training Institute on Saturday.

He said the Ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, would also make available to micro-finance providers, comprising rural and community banks as well as non-banking financial institutions with assistance from the Youth Fund for disbursement to the graduates.

Mr Amankrah said the STEP was in response to the last registration exercise being implemented in conjunction with the ministry, public and private training providers, trade associations and the district assemblies with funding from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries' Initiative (HIPC) Relief Fund. He said, about 2.4 billion cedis had been spent on 3,400 people who registered for employment, while 9,146 billion cedis had been earmarked for the training of 10,500 people under the next phase of the exercise.

Mr. Amankrah said the Gomoa Adaa Vocational Training Institute had been accredited to teach masonry, carpentry and joinery, batik, tie and dye and soap making.

Mr G.F.K. Yevu, Acting Director of the National Vocational Institute (NVTI), charged the 15 female and 15 male graduands to make maximum use of what they had learnt to make a difference in their lives. He said society needs young people who are creative, independent, and are willing to work, adding that they should practice their professions with all sincerity and diligence to attract more clients to their workshops.

Mr Yevu advised the trainees to shy away from all practices that would let them fall prey to the deadly HIV/AIDS because the nation needs them alive and healthy for its development process. Mr Julius B. Tantuo, the Centre Manager, paid tribute to the founding fathers who helped establish it in 1991 and expressed his appreciation to the Gomoa District Assembly chiefs and Mrs. Ama Benyiwa Doe, Member of Parliament for the area for their assistance to the centre.

He listed low intake, lack of electricity and hostel facilities as some of the problems affecting the centre. He therefore, appealed to the government, District Assembly, well-to-do citizens and non-governmental organisations to come to the aid of the centre.