82 Apprentices Undergo Technical And Vocational Training

Eighty-two out of a total of 100 apprentices have graduated and have been awarded certificates after undergoing vocational and technical skill training under the Sinapi Aba Trust's Youth Apprenticeship Programme(YAP) in Dormaa-Ahenkro.

The graduands, comprising 18 males and 64 females drawn from Dormaa and Berekum, underwent training in masonry, pastry, dressmaking and hairdressing for a period of three and half years under the tutelage of qualified masters to enable them start their own businesses.

Mr Samuel K. Addo, the Dormaa Central Municipal Coordinating Director, advised the graduands to make good use of the skills acquired by shunning the idea that they cannot be successful while in Ghana.

He said creating jobs through skill development had been a priority of the government; this had been demonstrable by the addition of new modules to the Youth Employment Scheme including planting for food and jobs among other interventions.

"Though some progress has been made, a lot still has to be done. It is disheartening a lot of our youth wake up each day and spend their energies looking for non-existent jobs.

"It is for this reason that we welcome this intervention by Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans aimed at addressing this challenge we face as nation and a Municipality. We thank you for complimenting the effort of the government," he stated.

Margaret Owusu Asare, the Youth Apprenticeship Programme Coordinator, Sinapi Aba Trust, said 18 apprentices who dropped out of the training programme ascribing various reasons including pregnancy.

She said the trainees also benefitted from other workshops organised by the Trust in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI).

"In all we spent an amount of not less than GH¢4000.00 on each of the beneficiaries," she added.

Mrs. Theodosia Jackson, Board Member of Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT), entreated the beneficiaries to live godly lives, noting their promotion and advancement in life was only attainable by being God fearing.

Mr Enoch Asumadu, one of the trainee masters, urged them to show respect to their masters to warrant their blessings and recognition.

The beneficiaries were also presented with working tools such as hairdriers, spirit level, wheel barrows, trowels, and shovels among other tools.

GNA
By Robert Tachie Menson, GNA