Tema, Feb. 18, GNA - In its determination to get the nation advanced in Information Communication Technology (ICT), the government has begun training people in computer technology to operate computers in the various establishments.

Initially, the concentration would be on the educational institutions and the district assemblies where the trainees are expected to operate most, Mr Addai Kyeremeh, Chief Director of the Ministry of Manpower Development, Youth and Employment stated on Friday at Tema. In fulfilment of this, the first batch of 100 ICT trainees graduated after six months training in computer hard ware, under the Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme at the Socio Economic Development Centre Limited (SEDCL) at Tema.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr Kyeremeh said so far 12,500 people have been trained in employable skills and the government has voted an initial five billion cedis for disbursement through the micro finance institute to the beneficiaries to enable them start business.

He asked the computer technicians to use the knowledge acquired effectively towards the socio economic development of the nation with the expectation that, they would install and maintain computers without hindrance.

Mr Kyeremeh indicated that a monitoring system is put in place to ensure that the trainees were making good use of the training programme.

Dr Kenneth M. Afari, Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC stressed the need for people to be groomed to make sure that the computer hard ware, which has become a tool of development in all sectors of the economy.

He therefore commended the Ministry of MDYE for embarking on the STEP programme needed to drive the ICT programme on the country forward. Mr Austin Gamey, Labour Consultant advised the graduations to continue learning new technology to be abreast of the rapid current changes and asked them to form companies to market themselves to gain employment.