Boadua (E/R), Sept. 23, GNA - Eighteen persons in the Kwaebibirem District, taking advantage of the government's Skill Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme, have acquired skills in the making of tie-and-dye and batik, soap, powder and pomade.

They were presented with certificates at a ceremony at the Kwaebibirem Central Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) near Boadua where they trained for four months.

Mr Yaw Yiadom-Boakye, the District Chief Executive, said the government is concerned about the plight of the unemployed youth and is determined to reverse the situation.

He said government is in the process of packaging a comprehensive long-term programme to provide STEP trainees with assistance in logistics to enable them to practice their skills.

"As we wait for the government to come out with the full compliment of their National Youth Programme the District Assembly has decided to support the trainees to establish themselves in gainful employment from the Poverty Alleviation Fund."

Mr David Mensah, Director of ICCES, said each STEP trainee would be given a loan of between 2 million and 2.5 million cedis to set up small-scale businesses.

He said the money had to be repaid within 18 months for others to also benefit.

Mr Mensah said the STEP programme would last for four years and that 3,000 people would be trained this year. He expressed regret that responses to enrolment for the courses were not encouraging and expressed the hope that the nation-wide registration for the next courses would receive massive response.