Sekondi, Dec. 4, GNA - The Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment is to establish a National Employment Taskforce (NET) to develop a well-structured and properly coordinated youth employment programme in the country.

The Taskforce would operate with other relevant sector Ministries and Agencies to facilitate job creation and placement for the youth in various economic ventures as well as social services. These were contained in a speech read for Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, the sector Minister, at the 27th graduation ceremony of the Opportunity Industrialisation Centre (IOC-Ghana) at Sekondi on Saturday. The Minister said the programme had been purposely designed to explore and provide additional employment opportunities throughout the country.

Under the programme, the Minister said, opportunities have also been created for self-employment and salaried jobs, adding that this would enable the youth to make meaningful and significant contributions towards socio-economic development.

He said money has been allocated in the 2006 budget to support the youth employment programme.

He said since the government alone cannot bear all the cost of providing the needed training, it is imperative on local communities individuals, religious and corporate bodies, chiefs and NGOs to support training institutions like the OIC-Ghana.

The Minister expressed the government's gratitude to both foreign and local institutions for their assistance to OIC-G. Mr. Adda reminded the graduates that success is achieved only through hard work, self- discipline and perseverance and that they must always exhibit high sense of discipline and moral rectitude. Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said the country had no choice but to embrace education that emphasises vocational, science and technology to accelerate its development agenda. He commended IOC-G for its contributions towards the socio-economic development of the country in the face of limited resource at its disposal.

Mr. Aidoo appealed to IOC board of directors and the country director to consider establishing a centre in the northern part of the region, either in the Aowin-Suaman or the Sefwi districts. Kasapreko Kwame Basanyin III, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi traditional area, who presided, advised the youth to take advantage of opportunities available to improve their lot.

In all 189 students who trained in stenography, office skills, carpentry, masonry, welding and building/draughtsmanship, were provided with certificates.

This brings to 2,000 the number of students who have graduated form IOC-G in Sekondi since it was established 27 years ago.