Accra, July 14, GNA - Two boards of governors for Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) and the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) was inaugurated on Monday with a call on the members to identify problems hindering growth in productivity and provide proposals to government for remedial actions. Mr Yaw Barimah, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment (MDE), who made the call, reiterated government's determination to train, empower and motivate Ghanaians to engage in productive wealth creation in order to liberate themselves as well as the nation from the shackles of poverty.

He said: "it is the Ministry and the government's conviction that for the nation to realize its development objectives the training and development of its manpower resources must be given the greatest attention.

This, Mr Barimah said, should be done by committing available resources into programmes that will provide the nation with a highly skilled and productive labour force."

The NVTI Board, which comprises 11 members, has Mrs Angela Ofori-Atta, Deputy Minister of MDE, as the chairperson while the MDPI Board with 10 members has Mr. Sminder Evans Amoah as the chairman. Members of the NVTI were Dr. Michael Y. Boateng, Director of NVTI, Mr Theodore Kwame Gyau, Managing Director, Obosu Company limited, Mr Dan Acheampong, Human Resources and Community Development Manager, Valco, Mrs Veronica Ayikwei Kofie, Head of International Department, TUC and Mr David Kwabla Dorkenoo, principal of Ghana Labour College. Others were Mr Amos Nyamekye Kaku, Acting Director, Technical/Vocational Division, GES, Mr John Yaw Amankrah, a Director at the MDE, Mr T.K. Essilfie, Acting Chief Labour Officer, Mrs Joyce Ababio, Managing Director, Vogue Style and Ms Comfort Ntiamoah-Mensah, Presbyterian Church Vocational Training for females.

The MDPI members were Mr J.K. Bapuuroh, Acting Chief Director, MDE, Thompson K. Bibilazu, Acting Director, MDPI, Seth Asante, and Special Assistant to the Minister, Henry Atta-Paido, Forestry Commission and Nana Asare Yeboah Kodie III, Private Enterprise Foundation.

The remaining were Mr Paul K. Kumahor CEO of Ernest and Young, Mr Yaw Kwarteng, Head of Administration, EMPRETEC Foundation and Ms Elizabeth Akpalu, Executive Director, Advocates for Gender Equity.

Mr Barimah said since the inception of the MDPI in 1964, it has operated from wooden structures, which does not befit its role and status and tasked the board members to work hard to relocate the Institute from its dilapidated structures He said efforts to relocate the institute to its new site since 1972 was fraught with problems of encroachment and charged them to ensure that the problem is solved to enable the MDPI to take the lead productivity improvement in Ghana.

"Key to good corporate governance is a well functioning, informed board of directors who understand their dual role of appreciating the issues put forward by management and honestly discharging their responsibilities towards the organisations' shareholders and other partners."

On NVTI, the Minister urged the board members to come out with strategies and interventions aimed at creating a flexible, responsive and relevant skilled workforce that would enhance the competitiveness and income generating capacity of Ghanaian industries as well as employment creation.

Mrs Ofori-Atta, on behalf of the members thanked government for the confidence repose in them.