Tarkwa (W/R), Oct. 20, GNA - A 550-million-cedi hostel belonging to Bishop Essuah Memorial Vocational School was inaugurated at Tarkwa last Saturday.

The hostel has eight dormitories, two kitchens, 12 toilet facilities, 12 bathrooms and a hall.

Manos Unidas, a Catholic benevolent society in Spain, financed the hostel with 350 million cedis and the remaining 200 million cedis was locally raised by St. Matthew Catholic Church, Tarkwa.

The Most Reverend John Martin Darko, Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese of Roman Catholic Church who dedicated the facility, told the students to recognise the school as a place where they are being prepared to face challenges in their future lives.

He told them to be humble and obey instructions that would be given them at the school.

In an address read on his behalf Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister, said the nation has a great responsibility towards the youth by giving them the requisite training which would place them in useful positions to enable them contribute to national development. He said over the years no concrete youth programmes have been put in place to address youth unemployment.

"Today the youth in many communities lack formal training in employable skills and this has made it very difficult for many of the youth to fit into the mainstream of economic activities in the country." Mr Aidoo said it is sad that a sizeable number of the youth who could not further their formal education are now unemployed and many engage in criminal activities and other social vices.

He said technical and vocational training must be given special attention, if the government's policy on the golden age of business is to succeed.

Mr Aidoo advised the youth of Wassa West District to take advantage of the school to acquire some employable skills to enable them become useful assets to their communities and the nation at large. Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, promised to give five sewing machines to the school. 20 Oct. 03