Kukurantumi (E/R), Aug 13, GNA - Sixty-three newly trained Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV), a social service arm of the US States Government, were on

Thursday sworn-in to take up postings to deprived communities in Ghana. This followed their completion of 10-week training in education and development, environment and health, industry and science and technology, to equip them

with skills to enable them to make impact on the lives of the people. Swearing-in the volunteers at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region, Mr Donald Teitelbaum, U.S Ambassador to Ghana, called on the Volunteers work hard to

change the living conditions of the people. Mr Teitelbaum urged the volunteers to treat the people with dignity and respect, saying "you have the chance to affect a life that you will never have again". He said US President Barack Obama on his recent visit to Ghana, discussed among other things with President Mills the possibility of increasing the number of

PCV's to Ghana to help to meet the needs of the people. He said this was in recognition of the importance the two leaders placed on the work of the PCV. Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, urged the youth to emulate the PCV and accept national service postings to any part of the country. Mr Ampofo asked the youth not to consider national service as a punishment but as an opportunity for them to contribute to national development. He called on the PCV to remain committed to their work and commended the group for its contribution to the development of Ghana since its inception in the

country in 1961. The new batch of PCV's would serve for two years after which a new batch would take over.