Fifty (50) selected hairdressers and beauticians in the Ashanti Region have benefitted from a two-week intensive training to upgrade their skills. They were taught the application of the right chemicals for optimal hair care and best management practices to grow their businesses.

The programme, jointly sponsored by the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), was facilitated by the Oyska Institute of Cosmetology.

Hajia Alima Seini, National President of the Ghana Progressive Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, said it was part of the nationwide effort to aid the members to maintain high professional standards.

They need not only be abreast of current trends in the cosmetology industry but to also develop skills and competencies to efficiently operate and expand their enterprises to create jobs. She appealed to the Government to work hard to create a favourable economic environment and put in place the necessary interventions to make the private sector more vibrant.

Ms Caroline Darko, a Resource Person, said the trainees were assisted to have better understanding of chemical application alongside good customer care and book-keeping. She called on the nation to put premium on vocational and skills training, saying, that was the way to go to bring down the rising unemployment among the youth.