Kumasi, Feb 19, GNA- The Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) has over the past four years, trained a total of one million youth in various vocations and in sex education.

Dr Joana Nerquaye-Tetteh, Executive Director of PPAG, who disclosed this, said the youth received skills training in sewing, baking, carpentry, batik tie and dye and organised workshops on sex education for them.

Speaking at the opening of the four-day second annual staff general meeting of the association in Kumasi on Thursday, she said in 2002, out of the 13.6 billion cedis allocated for its programmes, the association spent 3.5 billion cedis on skills training and sex education for the youth.

In 2003, Dr Nerquaye-Tetteh said again out of 13.6 billion cedis allocated for programmes, the PPAG spent 6.1 billion cedis on skills training and sex education for the youth.

The meeting has as its theme: "Team Building And Collective Responsibility -The Key To Organisational Success". She said the association had resolved to be more committed to youth training as its strategic plan to improve upon the lives of the youth.

Dr Nerquaye-Tetteh said this had become necessary in view of the increasing population of the youth, most of whom she noted, were unemployed and also ignorant about leading healthy sexual lives. She expressed satisfaction about the general performance of the staff of the association had enabled some of them to be sent out to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) affiliates in some African countries to give technical support.

Mrs Eva Tandoh, a resource person at the Management, Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), called for collaboration and unity among the staff to ensure efficient and effective work.