Kumasi, May 16, GNA - The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, has urged multi-national companies operating in the country to initiate and strengthen policies that will impart technological know-how to their Ghanaian workforce.

He said Ghana had capable and dynamic workforce and what was needed was for the companies to train them to acquire the necessary technological skills and competencies required to enable them work efficiently and assume responsible positions in their respective companies. Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Monday, when a Guinness Ghana Breweries delegation paid a courtesy call on him.

The delegation, which was led by Mr. Devlin Marc Hainsworth, Managing Director, were at the palace to introduce the new chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, Dr Nick Boodo Blazquez to the Asantehene. Otumfuo Osei Tutu charged the new chairman to initiate new ideas that would help revamp the company and move the brewery industry forward, adding that, "look forward to plan and find where we will go in the next five years".

On the proposed establishment of the Institute for Advanced ICT Studies by the company in Kumasi, the Project Co-ordinator, Professor Maarten Lioijen, said some funds had been secured to start the project, adding that, certain non-Masters Programme could commence by October this year, while the Masters of Science programme of the course was expected to begin by January 2007.

He said the Institute, which would be housed at the former Kumasi Breweries building, would be open to Ghanaian and other African professionals to acquire ICT knowledge, capabilities and attitude needed in developing, applying and maintaining as well as solving ICT related problems in industry, business, banking, insurance, hospital, society, education and science.

The Managing Director, Mr. Hainsworth, informed the Asantehene that, the integration of the two companies was progressing well, saying the synergies were being achieved while the volumes were growing, adding that, the Ahinsan brewery site was still being utilized and was contributing to the growth of the business.

Members of the delegation later presented a cheque for 100 million cedis to the Otumfuo Education Fund.