Accra (Greater Accra) 12 May ?99

A 22.5 million US dollar agreement for the establishment and the implementation of 20 Technical and Vocational resource centres (VOTEC) in the country, was on Tuesday signed by the governments of Ghana and the Netherlands.

Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Education (MOE) signed for Ghana and Mr Leon Van Nijnattan, Managing Director, TNW Export BV, of Netherlands, a technical and vocational expert, signed for his government.

Each of the 10 regions would be provided two centres, one at the regional capital and the other in a district capital to serve as workshop for practical training.

The government and people of Netherlands would provide 94.5 per cent of the cost in form of equipment while the government provides the remaining 5.5 per cent in form of structures.

The areas of specialisation would include mechanical, electrical, electronic and automotive engineering, construction and woodwork.

Mr Spio-Garbrah said the centres would help the industrial development of the country and called on the staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to assist in the management of the centres.

The programme would benefit both the public and private technical vocational institutions and foster the training of personal in that field.