Yawkwei (Ash), Oct 13, GNA - The Asante-Akim South District Office of the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has organised a 10-day training workshop on soap-making for 29 people at Yawkwei near Juaso. The workshop, which was attended by participants drawn from the community and its environs, was co-funded by the Rural Enterprise Project (REP) and the District Assembly.

It was to equip participants with employable skills to render them self-reliant and also to eliminate poverty at the grassroots. Mr Aikins Agyepong, Head of BAC, said the project was to complement government's efforts at reducing poverty by creating employment opportunities for its clients and urged members of the community to take advantage of the intervention.

He said the BAC, after facilitating the training of the participants, also played a key role in assisting the beneficiaries to source for loans to enable them to start their businesses. Mr Agyepong encouraged the participants to form groups to enhance their chances of getting loans and advised them not to include those who were not credit worthy.

Mr Abdul Karim Boakye-Yiadom, District Chief Executive (DCE) noted that the workshop demonstrated that government was committed to reducing the unemployment rate especially among the youth. He urged the youth to avail themselves of such opportunities to improve on their lot to help promote economic activities at the grassroots.

The DCE said the assembly would liaise with BAC to negotiate for loans on behalf of the participants and urged them to adhere to re-payment terms to enable others to also benefit. 13 Oct. 08