Techiman (B/A) July 2, GNA - The Techiman Traditional Council, with assistance from the French Embassy is putting up a cultural village at Techiman in Brong-Ahafo estimated at one billion cedis.

The project, comprising a museum, conference centre, open-air theatre and a craft shop, among other facilities would be used to train the youth in craft and other skills.

Nana Owusu Agyare, Akwamuhene of the Traditional Area, announced this at the inauguration of Techiman District branch of the Federation of Youth Association of Ghana (FEDYAG) at Techiman.

Mr Richard Kofi Bedzra, Brong-Ahafo Regional Youth Coordinator of the National Youth Council, said the FEDYAG, formerly known as Committee of Youth Associations (COYA), emerged out of the absence of a consistent programme to deal with the many youth associations in the country.

The idea is to evolve a framework to give the youth groups, definite responsibilities and direction to enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development, he said.

Mr Bedzra said youth associations existed with the objective of assisting in the development of towns and villages and to maintain discipline among members.

He cautioned that it would be undemocratic to prevent the emergence of youth groups and FEDYAG aimed at giving such groups direction to improve their projects and programmes.

The Regional Coordinator, however, noted with regret that "the inauguration of such organizations sometimes also witnessed their burial ceremonies" but expressed the hope that the Techiman branch would be different and advised the members to nurture and maintain it to grow to become a model for others.

Mr Bedzra advised the youth to take advantage of the President's Special Initiatives Programmes that were aimed at ensuring that unskilled and unemployed youth were trained to be able to support themselves, their families, the community and the nation as a whole.

Mr Isaac Osei Antwi, District Chief Executive, appealed to the youth to desist from indulging in practices that could endanger their lives and advised them to be disciplined and be committed to hard work.

Mrs Elizabeth Owusu, Women's Organiser of the Association, appealed to women to join the association to enable them to learn more skills to be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.

In a welcoming address, Mr Gabriel Kwasi Kudom, President of FEDYAG, said the Association would carry out social, economic, political, educational and cultural activities.

A seven-member executive was elected to steer the affairs of the Association.