The First Lady, Lordina Mahama, on Tuesday appealed to members of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians (GHABA) to patronize locally made hair products and cosmetics for their work.

The patronage, she added, would stabilize the economy and reduce the importation of those products with foreign currency from Europe and other continents.

Mrs Mahama made the call when she addressed the 12th Graduation ceremony for 230 people of the Greater-Accra Region GHABA in Accra on the theme: "Skills Training: The Key to the Development of the Hair and Beauty Industry."

The GHABA was formed in 1972 as a non- political, non-racial, non-religious and a non-ideological association with its headquarters in Accra.

With a membership of 6,000, GHABA was the first association to join the informal sector of the industrial and Commercial Workers Union, and has branches in all the 10 regions.

Mrs Mahama said the patronage of made-in-Ghana hair products and cosmetics, would also create more jobs for the Ghanaian youth as local industries could expand to employ more people.

She called on the graduands to be innovative and imaginative in offering their services to clients in the country and beyond.

The First Lady announced that government had availed GH?15 million in grants to train people through the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training, and urged them to take advantage of the opportunity.

Mrs Mahama said hairdressers and beauticians were playing significant roles in the beautification of people, and should therefore be given the opportunity to practise their trade.

She advised them to stand tall against the challenges of their trade, by upgrading themselves regularly to be abreast with international standards.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, announced that government would in 2016 allocate an amount of GH?10 million Cedis under the Youth Enterpreneurial Support programme.

He said GH?10 million Cedis would also be allocated to the National Vocational and Technical Institute to mobilize and train young people in masonry and other trades to be self-reliant.

The Minister said $24 million dollars was also allocated to support the Technical and Vocational Training in one University, two Polytechnics and a number of Technical Training Institutes.

Ms Tina Offei Yirenkyi, President of GHABA called for recognition of the Association, since it had been instrumental in the socio-economic development of Ghana, by creating jobs for more people.

She called for financial interventions that would make members useful in the provision of services.

Dr Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, who chaired the function, urged them to carry out their work professionalism to be recognized in society.