Asankragua (W/R), May 5, GNA - The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Conference, the Most Reverend Robert Kwesi Aboagye-Mensah, has expressed concern about the high rate of unemployable youth in the country.

He said since most of them did not have no qualifications and skills to contribute towards the development of the nation. The Rt Rev Aboagye-Mensah made these remarks at the 22nd Annual Synod of the Tarkwa Diocese of the Church at Asankrangwa in the Wassa Amenfi West District of the Western Region.

The Synod, which was attended by 150 delegates from the 17 circuits of the Dioceses, was under the theme "The Church in Mission". He explained that the rate of unemployment of among the youth was about 46 percent and said this was a critical issue that needed the attention of all well-meaning Ghanaians. Most Rev Aboagye-Mensah called on the government to support the establishment of more technical and vocational institutions to make the youth employable.

He noted that currently the equipment in many of such institutions was not enough. The Most Rev Aboagye-Mensah stressed the need for both the church and the government to provide the youth with employment to enable them to contribute their quota to the nation building. The Bishop of the Tarkwa Diocese, the Right Reverend John Albert Yaw Aduba, said the mission of the Church was not only to proclaim the Gospel but also to fulfil of its social responsibility to the people. He stressed the need for the Church to show concern about child abuse, malnutrition and orphans of HIV/AIDS victims and said these social evils have eaten too much into the fabric of society. Bishop Aduba called for pragmatic policies to support the fight against the occultism practices in second cycle and tertiary institutions.

The MP for Manso Amanfi, Mr jerry John Jentuah, commended the Methodist Church for her immense contributions in the areas of education and health but pointed out, however, that not much had been done to provide technical education.

He appealed to the Church to establish more such institutions to support the youth and to make them employable, adding that the development of the nation depended not only on the government but the Church as well.