Akosombo (E/R), Sept. 28, GNA - Ghana is hosting the 48th Annual International Air Cadet Exchange Association Conference (IACEA), at Akosombo in the Eastern Region.

Delegates at the IACEA, which aims at fostering harmony among young people with common interest in aviation, will among other things develop an action plan for 2010.

Ghana has about 10,200 students recruited into the 180 cadet corps, made up of the Army, Navy, Police, Airforce and Ghana National Fire service, operating in the educational institutions across the country. Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, who addressed the opening ceremony, said government would tap the productive contribution of the cadet corps to facilitate national development. "To this effect government will ensure that more cadet corps are established."

Mr Tettey-Enyo said the formation of more cadet corps would inject discipline in society and encourage time consciousness. He noted that the cadet corps inculcates patriotism among the youth as well as service to the nation.

The minister said government was happy to host the conference that was intended to prepare the youth as future leaders. He expressed the hope that deliberations at the five-day conference, will examine ways of getting more African countries to embrace the concept of helping to meet some of the challenges confronting the continent, especially in the formation of youth policies and engagement of the youth in community development programmes. "I must commend the efforts of the young men and women who have stood the test of time and fought the battle voluntarily with little and sometimes no support from government to ensure that Ghana makes a name at the international level by becoming a member if the IACEA." 28 Sept. 09