Dormaa Ahenkro (B/A) April 2 GNA - The Presbyterian Church In Dormaa Ahenkro is to embark on economic ventures estimated at more than 700 million cedis to boost government efforts in providing employment for the youth.

For a start, the church plans to construct 42 market stalls estimated at 500 million cedis within its precincts, poultry farm and produce sachet water.

The Reverend Edward Kwasi Foli, district pastor who disclosed this in an interview with Ghana News Agency said the projects were aimed at helping to raise the low financial status of members. He said the church would organise fund-raising events to support the projects and launched its 2005 annual harvest, which targets 200 million cedis, on Easter Sunday.

"Other funds will come from members' contributions, tithes and special levies", he added.

Rev Foli explained that it was the conviction of the church that the projects would not only provide gainful employment for the teeming youth but would also stem their drift to urban areas in search of for non-existent jobs. He said the construction of the market stall would take off as soon as on-going road rehabilitation works near the church's premises were completed.

"Structures for the poultry project have been acquired while two water sources, which have been examined and approved by the National Standards Board are waiting for the arrival of he necessary equipment to start the sachet water production," ..the pastor added.