The Volta Regional Secretariat of the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP) on Tuesday presented sets of photography equipment to 23 photographers in the Region in Ho.

Each set comprising a digital camera, primer, chargeable battery, external battery and paper cost GH?1,358.50.

The beneficiaries have 12 months to repay.

Mr. Emmanuel Darlington Drayi, Regional Co-ordinator of LESDEP impressed on the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the equipment with the aim of repaying on time and expanding their businesses to be able to employ others.

He urged them to adopt positive attitudes to work to be successful.

Mr. Drayi said the LESDEP packages demonstrate government’s commitment to provide sustainable employment and livelihood to the youth.

He called for patience from prospective beneficiaries, assuring them that the government would be truthful to its commitments towards them.

Mr. Drayi said the LESDEP is a social intervention programme aimed at empowering current and future breadwinners financially so as to ensure peace and harmony in homes and the society.

He said financially empowered youth would not lend themselves to violence as a means of earning their livelihoods.

Mr. Stanley Drake of the Ho Municipal Assembly said the LESDEP programme was an innovative, flexible and humane approach to lending to skilled men and women to acquire essential equipment to be able to practice their skills and earn decent living.

He urged the beneficiaries to espouse the positive gains of LESDEP by making profitable use of their tools and equipment to encourage others to also come on board.

Mr. Drake called on prospective beneficiaries to seek information and dialogue with the LESDEP management to clear any misconceptions about the programme instead of feeding on misinformation.**