Sokode-Lokoe, July 16, GNA-Mr Akwasi Opoku Adjei, Volta Regional Director of the Department of Community Development at the weekend said the funding and recognition crisis being faced by the Department must be tackled with all earnestness to boost the national quest for poverty eradication in the rural areas.

He said though the Department had trained staff, experience and verifiable track record, it remained bogged down by the shifting of responsibility of whether it was the district assemblies or central government that should fund its programmes.

Mr Adjei was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during the first graduation ceremony of the Women's Training Institute (WVI) at Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho on Saturday.

He said the Department, which was in youth skills development, adult literacy, women empowerment, community initiative projects and human resource development programmes, had the mandate to create self-employment and self-sufficiency in rural and poor communities so as to reduce rural-urban migration.

Mr Adjei said the two school systems under the Department-Women's Training Institutes and the Community Development Technical Institutes-must be brought fully into the scheme of government policies on job creation and poverty eradication.

He regretted that, "the dynamics of local governance has negatively affected these institutions as administrative decentralization is way ahead of fiscal decentralization".

"As a result, the institutions be-devilled with a myriad of problems, are grinding to a halt despite the noble role they are playing in the fight against poverty in general and youth unemployment," Mr Adjei said.

Ms Bernice Aculey, Headmistress of the Institute said the 57 graduating students who completed a three-year course in catering, dressmaking, home management, Needlework, craft, hairdressing, batik, tie and dye making as well English Language, Mathematics and computer literacy passed both their National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and internal exams.

She said the school, established in 1965 under the Youth Vocational Training Scheme of the Department of Community Development needed extra classrooms, a dinning hall, a well-equipped demonstration block, a library, staff bungalows and a canteen for day students.

He expressed gratitude to the schools Parent Teacher Association (PTA), VALCO Trust Fund, Ho Municipal Assembly, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Catholic Secretariat in Ho and the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for their support.

Mr Joseph Nayan, Deputy Volta Regional Minister appealed to authorities of the Institute to "constantly review their curriculum to ensure that trainees are abreast with modern techniques and standards". He also suggested that refresher courses were organized for past students on a regular basis to update their knowledge.

Captain George Nfodjo (rtd), Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-Central pledged to provide the school with an industrial gas oven and also pay fees of students who were withdrawn from the Institute recently for financial reasons.

Mr Forster Kofie, PTA Chairman said handicraft technology remained an important aspect of vocational training, even in these days of automated production and urged the youth to enter vocational schools to learn employable skills.

Miss Rosemond Keteku, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Education, who presided urged the graduating students to strive hard and improve on their skills, as "there is wealth at the fingertips".