Abetifi (E/R), Sept. 20, GNA- The government recognises vocational training as one of the important aspect towards the country's development and would give the needed assistance to the training of the youth in the various vocational skills.

Apart from providing self-employment to the youth, vocational training will also offer an opportunity for those with initiative and entrepreneurships to be on their own to enhance the private sector development.

This was contained in an address read on behalf of the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah at the graduation of 43 trainees who completed a six-month training in dress making, carpentry and masonry under the Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) Programmes in the Kwahu South District at the Abetifi on Friday. He said vocational training being embarked on throughout the country is designed in a holistic and co-ordinated manner in fulfilment of the New Patriotic Party's electioneering campaign to create job opportunities for the unemployed.

Dr Osafo Mensah advised those who have completed the training to make effective use of the skills acquired.

He urged them to take advantage of financial assistance from the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, District Assembly Poverty Alleviation Fund, the youth fund and the Senior Ministers loan scheme and form cooperatives to assess those facilities. The acting Director of the National Vocational Training Institute (NTTI), Mr George Yevu said the purpose of skill training is to develop the potential in the youth for the socio-economic and technological advancement of the country.

He said the STEP programme is to produce adequate craft men and other artisans who are essential requirement for national development and poverty reduction in the country. The District Chief Executive, Mr Raymond Osafo Djan, advised all those who registered under the unemployment registration exercise to take advantage of the STEP programme to acquire the requisite vocational training.

He said, the 13 dressmakers among the trainees would be assisted with an amount of 6.5 million cedis from the HIPC fund to establish their own business and urged the rest to form co-operative to enable them to source financial assistance.

The Centre Manager, Mr Evans Ackon said the trainees need financial assistance to form business groups in accordance with the concept of the programme and appealed to the government, District Assemblies and NGOs to assist them.

He appealed to the district assemblies to assist the centre to complete a hostel to solve the accommodation problem facing the trainees.