Mankessim (C/R), Oct. 13, GNA - A five-day trainers workshop by the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE) with funds from the Ghana AIDS Commission has ended at Mankessim, in the Central Region.

Forty group leaders from the Mfantseman District attended the workshop, which was aimed at equipping them with entrepreneurial skills to establish and manage their businesses efficiently to prevent them from engaging in sex as a means of livelihood.

They were taken through topics including enterprise development, the entrepreneur as a manager and managing money, assets and people. Other topics were the mode of infection and management and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Lucia Quachey, President of the Association, advised women to form groups to enable them get financial assistance to improve their businesses.

"We need to eschew selfishness and come together to work and improve our financial base to prevent us from depending on men for our livelihood".

Mrs Quachey said AIDS had no cure and urged them to avoid the disease, saying, "Do not go to any man for money only to be infected with HIV/AIDS".

Miss Gladys Ntamack, Administrative Officer and Project Co-ordinator of GAWE, asked the participants to put what they had learnt into practice and to train members of their groups.

Miss Comfort Abena Berko and Miss Anastasia Fynn, both participants, expressed gratitude to GAWE and the AIDS Commission for organising the workshop, which they described as an eye opener in business management. Miss Berko noted that many women entered business without keeping records on purchases and profit margins.

Miss Fynn said the workshop would help them to manage their businesses well.