Regional News of Tuesday, 2 March 2004

Source: GNA

Oguaa MP provides youth with employable skills

Cape Coast, Mar 2, GNA- One hundred and forty youngsters in the Cape Coast municipality, on Monday passed out after undergoing 10 days training in jewellery and beads making at the 'Ogun Centre for Beads, research and Beads Museum in Accra

The training was sponsored by the Member of Parliament for the Cape Coast constituency and Minister of State in charge of Basic, Secondary and Girl Child Education, Ms Christine Churcher, at a cost of 15 million cedis, from her MP's fund.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Ms Churcher said her desired is to have all the unemployed youth in the constituency acquire entrepreneurial skills.

She commended those who passed out for their and hard work and urged them to make use of the skills they have acquired to improve their living conditions.

The Minister said the training, was the first phase of a programme to train the youth, and that she was sourcing for Funds, to enable her establish a workshop for them and also give them soft loans to start their own businesses.

The MP, also stressed her determination to ensure improved standards in education and said it is in view of this that she had provided 91 million cedis as a scholarship fund for some tertiary and Senior Secondary School students.

She said she would ensure that the constituency developed its potential as the heartbeat of tourism in the country.

Mr James Ogunlade, Proprietor of the centre said it has trained 1,700 youth, and commended the MP for initiating the programme. Mr Kwesi Anaisie-Yarquah, Presiding Member of the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly asked the constituents to re-elect the MP in the December elections.