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10.04.2011 Politics

Amamomo Assemblyman Elect to equip youth with skills

10.04.2011 LISTEN
By GNA

April 09, 2011
Accra, April 9, GNA - A technical and vocational Institute is to be established within the Amamomo Electoral Area in Accra to train the youth especially the needy and vulnerable, to acquire employable skills free of charge.

This was stated by Mr John Oti Bless, Assembly Member for the area in the Ashiedu Keteke Sub Metropolitan District, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra at the weekend.

He noted that most of the youth in the area were porters popularly known as "Kayayei" and other menial workers.

Mr Oti Bless said a study he conducted indicated that between 65 per cent and 70 per cent of them needed assistance to learn trades and acquire skills to make them productive citizens.

The 31-year-old Social Work Undergraduate of the University of Ghana said he was already in contact with some international organisations to establish the institute as soon as possible.

The Assembly Member also spoke of plans to mobilise residents especially the youth to protect the Korle Lagoon from pollution and to rid the area of filth due to the proximity of major markets.

He said refuse contractors including Zoomlion and Merksworld would be contacted to provide more refuse containers at strategic points, which would be evacuated regularly to ensure proper environmental sanitation.

The Assembly Member asked the city authorities to provide security lights in the area since people dumped refuse at unapproved places under the cover of darkness.

Mr Oti Bless, who is the Founder of Concerned Voice, Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), focusing on health related issues and human rights, said it was collaborating with four community based organisations to curb child trafficking and domestic violence.

He said the NGO was also working with the Ministry of Health in disease control programmes and was one of the major distributors of treated mosquito nets for the National Malaria Control Programme.

The Assembly Member, who is also the Chief Executive of Blessed Security Services, Blessed Pharmacy and Blessed Cleaning Services promised to ensure that the community got its fair share of development.

Mr Oti Bless, who had provided security lights for the Timber Market, Adadenpo and Agbogbloshie areas from his own resources, spoke of plans to solve the water problems of the area.

GNA

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