Skills based institutions urged to support the development of Tourism

Mrs.Fati Yakubu, Director of HOTCATT, the hospitality training institute of the Ministry of Tourism, on Saturday urged skills based institutions to ensure that the Tourism sector contributes its quota towards the country's attainment of a middle income status by 2015.

"Many countries all over the world including the development and advanced ones make so much from their tourism potential and this has given them much leeway in terms of development"

Mrs. Yakubu, was speaking at the 20th graduation of EKGS Culinary Institute on the theme;" The Culinary Industry, Ghana's experience this far."

Eighty-eight students who were taken through a 6-month training programme graduated in Cake making and decorating with sugar craft, balloon, ribbon, and floral décor art, cookery and pastry arts courses.

Mrs. Yakubu said the tourism sector could also provide direct and indirect employment, which would enhance the standard of living and increase government income from direct and indirect taxation.

"The sector cannot make any meaningful headway in the direction if we do not have trained manpower to Mann the tourist facilities to meet expectations. Training is very vital in this sector and without it there would not be good service and quality standards". He said.

Mrs.Yakubu stressed the need for the country to enhance preparation of foreign and local dishes to attract tourists.

"The holding of cooking competition amongst our catering institutions would give students the needed impetus to showcase skills in our delicacies and I call on organisers of television reality shows on cooking to highlight the need to show our local preparations". She said.

She urged the graduands to upgrade their knowledge in order to be abreast with the changing trends in the industry.

Mrs. Efua Goode-Arthur, Director of EKGS Culinary Institute called on government to waive taxes on equipment for the culinary industry to ensure that operators get acess to tools to enhance their operations.

Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, General Manager of Graphic Communications Group Limited urged the electorate to exercise their franchise on December 7 peacefully and abide by electoral rules and regulations. Miss Ruby Nunoo won the award for best student in cake making and décor (Practical), Miss Harriet Mensah, best student in cake making and décor (theory), Marian Kim Nergiwade, pastry arts, Elvis Ntim, cookery arts(practical),Cynthia Darkwa, cookery arts (theory),Esther Aidoo, balloon , ribbon and floral arts, while Deborah Quashie won the overall best student award.