Nii Armah Ashitey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey, says women who acquire technical skills constitute a huge national asset, since it facilitates development.

Speaking at a Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) graduation on the theme: “Bold and Transformation leadership,” Nii Ashitey asked women with vocational skills to establish jobs to impact their knowledge to others.

He also asked the graduands to let the values and virtues acquired in the institution, guide them in their future jobs.

He said vocational and technical schools are not only meant for school dropouts, adding that vocational training has facilitated the development of countries, including Germany and Singapore.

He called on government to pay more attention to the manufacturing industry through the use of vocational and technical skills.

He said with vocational skills one is always guaranteed a job and even without employment one could take the path of entrepreneurship.

“The labour markets are in search of people but unfortunately the people that we are sending out from the universities are people who do not have the requisite skills to match the requirement of industry,” he stated,

Nii Ashitey called for ways to enhance the skills of graduates from the universities to match the requirements of the labour market.

He said it is a waste of investment to see students graduate from senior high schools without furthering their education due to lack of finance.

He said students who wish to go into vocational and technical training should be offered scholarships.

He told the graduands that it is important to captivate customers and keep them, noting that the products or services they provide must be of quality and new to surpass their competitors.

Nii Ashitey told the graduands not to be knocked down by the difficulties but rather be patient and strong.

He urged the school authorities to monitor the operations of the students and assist them if the need be.

Mrs Rosemond Abraham, the YWCA President, asked the Ministry of Education to provide the academic facility with a bus to help enhanced linkages with other institutions.

The school graduated 130 students out of which 36 studied home management, 46 secretarial courses and 31 fashion.