Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 30, GNA - Madam Margaret Asare, Vice President of Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association in Berekum in Brong Ahafo has suggested to Municipal and Districts Assemblies to ensure that only qualified barbers and hair dressers who possessed certificates operate.

She stressed that the measure would enable the association to weed out the unqualified persons whose operations were a threat to the health of the people. The Vice President made the suggestion at a dialogue workshop organized for small scale entrepreneurs in Sunyani. The workshop was organized by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with KAB Governance Consult and BUSAC Fund. Madam Asare noted that "some apprentices who could not complete their training under their masters are practising with unsafe equipment and cosmetics in their communities and this can be harmful to the health of customers".

She appealed to the assemblies and health workers to supervise the activities of all hairdressers and barbers and to ensure that they had taken the examination conducted by the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and possessed certificates.

Mr Evans Kwaku Annor Mawu, Vice Chairman of Techiman Municipal Barbers Association, also expressed concern about the activities of mobile barbers who operated from house to house.

He called on the assemblies to ensure that the working tools and certificates of barbers were safe to prevent the spread of diseases. Mr Kwabena Kyere Yeboah, Berekum Municipal Chief Executive and Mr Kwame Awuah-Twumasi Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, who jointly presided, urged their colleagues to take pragmatic measures to address the situation.