Anloga, June 3, GNA - The Keta District Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Ahiabor has urged the youth to strive to acquire vocational skills that would earn them regular income rather than taking to social vices that would not only ruin their lives but also become liability to the nation. He observed that the acquisition of employable skills by the youth plays an important role in the national agenda of job and wealth creation as well as reduction of abject poverty among the people. Mr Ahiabor made this remark at the graduation ceremony of 22 garment construction trainees sponsored by the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Development and Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme at Anlo Technical Institute at Anloga in the Volta Region.

The DCE advised the grandaunts that the district assembly would give them the necessary support from the Poverty Alleviation Fund if they would form associations and work hard to merit the assistance. The Principal of the Institute, Mr Johnson K. Barabu intimated that the programme was financed through the HIPC account of the Manpower, Youth and Development and over 17.6 million cedis was spent on tuition, materials and administration cost.

Mr Barabu advised the trainees to impart the skills they had acquired to others, stressing that they go out as ambassadors of the STEP programme to improve the economic well-being of themselves and their community members.

He appealed to the parents and guardians to send their children and wards to the institute to be trained as master-craftsmen and women in various types of vocational work so that they would not become a burden on society.

The Assistant Director of Education, Mr G.K. Chachavuvu commended the government for initiating the STEP programme, adding that the training the graduands went through would open vast opportunities for them in the job market.

Mr Chachavuvu who deputised for the Keta District Director of Education, urged the youth in the area to come out and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the STEP programme in order to acquire employable skills for descent living.

The chairperson for the function, Mrs Hilaria Tagboto, a retired educationist, advised the graduands to be hardworking, obedient and confident and put what they had learned into practice.