Kumasi, June 12, GNA- The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Scout Association (GSA)has acquired an eight-hectare land at Wawase in the Kwabre District for the construction of a Training Centre at an estimated cost of Two billion cedis.

The project, which would include offices, classrooms, conference halls, a dinning hall and others would be financed through the contributions of members and support from donors. Sheikh Mohammed Kamil Mohammed, Ashanti Regional Commissioner of the GSA made these known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Tafo in Kumasi on Monday.

He said the association aims among others at training the youth physically, spiritually and mentally to enable them to be self-reliant and live disciplined lives. Sheikh Mohammed observed that lack of personnel to train the members on leadership skills had been a major problem facing the association, adding that, it had planned to open more branches in Teacher Training Colleges in the country. This, he said, would help teachers after completing their courses to be posted to places to train more scout members in leadership skills to generate interest in the youth to join it. The Commissioner said the association has branches in Mamponteng, Obuasi and the Kumasi Wesley College and that efforts were being made to open more branches in other districts to train the youth in leadership skills.

Mrs Raihana Ibrahim, Deputy Regional Commissioner of the association on her part said, the association has been actively involved in educating the public on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases to help improve their health status. She expressed concern about the increasing rate of street children in Kumasi and said plans were underway for the association to organize them to play positive roles in the socio-economic development of the country.

She indicated that lack of funding was a major problem facing the association and appealed to individuals, churches and organization to support it towards the implementation of its activities and programmes.