Denchemuoso (Ash), Jan. 18, GNA- The Ghana-Germany Friendship Association of Munich, Germany has commissioned a GH=A2330,000 hostel facility for the Denchemuoso youth Training Institute in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma (BAK) District of Ashanti.
The 200 room capacity hostel was commissioned at Denchemuoso during a durbar on Thursday to solve a perennial accommodation problem facing the students of the institution.
In a speech read for him, Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment said, the Institute, the second in Ashanti is among the eleven Leadership and Skills Training Institute facilities being run by the National Youth Council (NYC) throughout the country. He said the Ministry had established these Institutes in response to the country's quest for a disciplined corps of skilled artisans to enhance the growth of the industrial sector.
Nana Akomea added that, the ultimate goal was not only to train the youth, but to produce responsible young men and women who could be counted on to apply their training in a manner which would benefit the communities and Ghana as a whole.
"We believe that it is important for the youth to develop character traits such as diligence, honesty, integrity and selflessness, aside their acquired skills" he stressed.
The Minister re-iterated government's efforts to reduce poverty among the youth, especially those in the rural areas, under the New Educational Reforms Programme.
"They would be trained in Technical, Agricultural and Vocational Education as well as structured Apprenticeship training", he said. Miss Patricia Appiagyei, Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi, who was the guest of honour for the occasion, suggested to the training institutes to teach Management Studies to equip the students who may want to set-up their own businesses after the training with. She said the country's development would need vocational training skills and advised parents and students to debunk the idea of choosing the course as their last resort.
Madam Patricia Appiagyei hinted that, the Ghana-Germany Friendship Association would soon establish a Day-Care Centre at Denchemuoso. Mr Albert Owusu, the founder of the school was full of praise, when he revealed that the institute, which started in 1991 with only eight students now, had 70 students.
He was however not happy that the community showed a lot of indifference, when they were told to offer communal labour, which led to an increase in the cost of the building.
Mr Owusu, who also a founding member of the Ghana-Germany Friendship Association appealed to the chiefs and people of the area to patronize the facility, since most of the students came from outside the community.
He appealed to government and philanthropists to contribute to the development of the school, especially when Plumbing, Masonry, Electrical works, Catering Carpentry, Textiles, Bicycle repairs and Dressmaking would soon be introduced.
Nana Agyeibi Kwadwo III, Chief of Atwima called on his people to be patriotic and also educate their children.
He appealed to the government to help complete the Techiman Junior High School to help boost education in the area. An exhibition of products made by the students including dresses, furniture, Batik, Tie and dye and repaired bicycles were on display.