Tetrefu (Ash), July 29, GNA- The Ghana Education Service (GES) has approved the running of City and Guilds programmes by the Tetrefu Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills (ICCES) in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District of Ashanti. Mr Daniel Amoh, Manager of the Centre, announced this at the 11th Graduation ceremony and launching of the 20th Anniversary celebration of the centre at Tetrefu on Thursday, under the theme, "Building the Future Through Technical And Vocational Education". He said a total of 31 candidates have been registered for the examinations this year and expressed the hope that the centre would achieve greater academic heights.

Mr Amoh said the centre has trained 736 students in block laying and concreting, carpentry, dressmaking, electrical works, catering and draughtsmanship. He urged individuals and organisations to assist the Centre build more classrooms and workshops, acquire equipment and vehicle and provide good drinking water.

Mr Seth Victor Apraku-Mensah, National Director of the ICCES, said the government would introduce 'vocation agriculture' in all ICCES under the government's Skills Training and Employment Programme (STEP) next academic year. He said every community training centre would be allowed to select a vocation of its choice from snail farming, bee keeping, grasscutter rearing, mushroom and fish farming.

Mr Apraku-Mensah commended the citizens of the town, the Japanese and Danish governments and the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District Assembly for their contributing to the development of the centre. Mr Bright Addai-Mununkum, the District Chief Executive, said the government was committed to the development of the youth and therefore, called on young men and women to avail themselves of the various ICCES to reduce poverty. Launching the 20th anniversary celebration programme of the centre, Nana Anthony Kwadwo Boateng, Ashanti Regional Director of ICCES, said the centre was to raise 100 million cedis during the celebration, to support its projects.