Agona Swedru, Jan 7, GNA - A total of 1.3 million Ghanaians will become literate by 2007 to accelerate the country's economic and social development.

This would reduce the high illiteracy and poverty levels. Mr George Bentil, Deputy Director in-charge of Field Operation of the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, announced this at the close of a two-day training workshop for District and Regional Co-ordinators of the Non-Formal officers at Agona Swedru.

He said under the first phase of the five-year programme, the illiteracy level in the country was reduced from 52 percent to 49 percent, adding that, the second phase would start this year and end in 2007.

Mr Bentil stated that to achieve the aims of the two-year period, new officers had been recruited to manage the programme efficiently, saying, they would be equipped with the necessary logistics to enable them perform their functions effectively.

The Deputy Director noted that the NFED was a major player in the nation's development and said it should not be seen as a drain on the country's economy. Mr Bentil stressed that the perception of some people that it was attached to a particular political party was false and should not be entertained.

The Deputy Director called on media and public to help the programme to succeed. Mr J E Enninful, Central Regional Co-ordinator, said measures had been put in place to improve the living conditions of the people especially those in deprived areas through income generating activities such as soap making, modern farming, snail rearing, batik tie and dye and mushroom farming. 07 Jan 05