Seventy vulnerable teenagers in the Tema Metropolis are to benefit from skills training under the Social Investment Fund (SIF), being implemented by the Social Welfare Department.

The beneficiaries were drawn from Tema Manhean, Appollonia, Kpone-Bawaleshi, Katamanso, Kpone, Zeenu and other villages within the Metropolis.

Mr George De-Graft Assan, Metropolitan Social Welfare Director, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Tuesday, explained that SIF was an aspect of the Urban Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Mr Assan stated that grants ranging from 60 and 120 Ghana Cedis, would be given to the master craftsmen, to train the beneficiaries in dressmaking, hairdressing and carpentry among other technical skills in their localities.

He said the beneficiaries would sign a contract with the Department, after which the training would begin.

He added that the grants which formed part of the Social Inclusion Transfer under the SIF, was aimed at mitigating the hardship the teenagers faced in their quest to survive.

The Director said, since SIF’s inception in November 2011, a total of 508 people have so far benefited from similar grants under the Fund.

Mr Assan explained that the grant caters for educational support for vulnerable school children, poor lactating mothers and pregnant women, people living with HIV and AIDS, and street children.

In another development, the Social Welfare Department, in February paid six months arrears from May to October of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) benefits to beneficiaries in the metropolis.

Mr Assan said the remaining six months arrears which covers November 2011 to April, would be paid soon.

He said a total of 833 vulnerable people, over 65 years and persons with disabilities have been put on the LEAP project.**