Kumasi, July 2, GNA - Mr Clement Kofi Osei-Tutu, Deputy Director of Programmes and Operations at the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), has appealed to the government to place the NVTI under the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to enable it have access to the GETFund.

NVTI is under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiative.

Mr Osei-Tutu made the appeal at the inauguration of a 12-member Centre Management Committee for the NVTI at Suame in Kumasi. The committee will serve as the advisory body to the centre in matters of policy, administration, disciplinary issues for both staff and trainees and to ensure that all matters of information, reports on statement of accounts are submitted to the head office.

He said although the private sector is said to be the engine of growth for the nation's economy, lack of support for the NVTI and other manpower training institutions which provides the bulk of the nation's manpower needs would not enhance the development agenda. Mr Osei-Tutu said as the country grappled with unemployment, there was the need for the promotion of self-employment and as such courses offered at the NVTI centres should be given a boost to make many youth self-employed. Mr Prince Hagan, Managing Director of New Era Press in Kumasi and chairman of the committee, pledged to help uplift the image of the institute by bringing all stakeholders on board to brainstorm on ways of making the institute a centre of excellence. Mr Seth Oduro, Manager in-charge of Suame NVTI, appealed to the government to help them complete the three-storey building to enable them increase the intake of trainees.

NSOC 21 Social Court Juvenile A 13-year-old murder suspect remanded in juvenile custody

Nyinahin (Ash), July 2, GNA - The Nyinahin Magistrate Court presided over by Mr Augustine Essah, has remanded a 13-year-old murder suspect into juvenile custody for two weeks. Yaw Amankwaah appeared before the court on provisional charge of murdering a 54-year-old teacher, Felicia Gyeima of Kyereyaaso near Nyinahin. The court further ordered the police to send the docket to the Attorney General's (AG) office, which would determine the charge and the actual court to try the case. It would be recalled that on June 22 this year, Amankwaah was reported to have taken the father's single barrel gun while sweeping the father's room and after loading and plying with it, the bullet went off hitting Miss Gyeima who was standing some distance away in the courtyard. The pellets hit her in the head killing her instantly. Nancy Owusu who was standing close to Gyeima was also hit in the throat and was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where she is still receiving treatment. The body of Gyeima has been deposited at KATH mortuary for autopsy.