Adidome(V/R), Jan. 03, GNA - Six hundred and six liberated Trokosi servitude women have been equipped with vocational training skills over the past 23 months by International Needs, Ghana, an NGO. The women were trained in batik making, tie and dye, soap and powder, bead designing, baking and confectionery production at the NGO's Vocational Training Centre at Adidome. Other training modular at the centre includes emotional and psychological counselling, functional literacy, basic communication skills, client/customers relations, personal hygiene and safety measures.

Mr Cromwell Awadey, Projects and Research Implementation Officer of the NGO announced this when speaking on behalf of Reverend Walter Pimpong, Executive Director of the NGO at the graduation of 89 women at Adidome at the weekend. He said a Micro Enterprise Training and Credit Scheme would be established soon to assist Ex-Trokosi graduates' access small loans to support their businesses and empower them financially. Mr Awadey advised the women to establish joint ventures and enterprises to increase their market base and be prudent in financial management to ensure the security of their invested capital.

Miss Patience Vormawor, Projects Coordinator of Australian Agency for International Development, (AUSAID) sponsors of the training explained that the agency would continue to provide start-up materials for the liberated women to enable them begin work soon after graduating from the centre. She encouraged the trained women to return to their communities with resolute spirits of hard work, diligence and dignity to take their vocations seriously. Miss Vormawor advised them to work relentlessly to generate income and be economical in their spending to enhance their living standards.