The Western Regional secretariat of the National Youth Council would train over 100 youths within the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis in designing of hats, bags, belts, baskets and footwear in May this year.

In addition, it would also organise talks on good grooming, personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and the campaign against HIV/AIDS. Mr Emmanuel P. Assan, Western Regional co-ordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC) disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Sekondi on Monday. He said the six-week intensive programme was meant to reduce unemployment among the youth, assist them to acquire entrepreneurial skills and make locally made products available on the market.

Mr. Assan said locally made hats, bags, belts and baskets, are in great demand in several parts of the country. He said negotiations had been concluded with some institutions and partners, to ensure the success of the programme, adding that invitations had been sent out to several youth groups and associations within the metropolis, to enrol for the training. He said a similar training programme in batik, tie and dye for some youth in the metropolis is yielding results.

Mr. Assan called on parents and churches, as well as non-governmental organisations, to sponsor youths within their communities to take advantage of the opportunity.