Ajumako Afransi (C/R), Dec.5, GNA- Government would continue to place premium on technical and vocational training due to its important to the country's industrial development. Such training for the youth would enable them to meaningfully contribute to national development.

Nana Akomea, Minister for Manpower and Youth Employment, said these at the inauguration of a technical and vocational workshop at the Kofi Annan Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute at Ajumako Afransi in the Central Region.

He urged the youth in the area to take advantage of the existence of the Institute and acquire technical and vocational skills to enable them to contribute acquire skills so that they could establish their own economic ventures.

Nana Akomea said government would ensure that the road leading to the Centre was repaired.

Mr. Jan. Schuller, head of Kofi Annan Foundation in Holland, said the establishment of the Centre was based on the assurance given by some authorities that the Centre would be connected to the National Electrification Grid, during the commissioning of the Institute in 2005. He expressed regret that as at the time of the inauguration there was no electricity at the Centre.

Mr. Kenneth Obempong, District Chief Executive for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, said efforts were being made to connect some communities including the Centre in the area to the national electrification grid.

Mr. Anthony Kingsely Bodi, Principal of the Centre, said the Centre lacked accommodation for staff and students and adequate number of staff.

He said it only had a staff of principal, an accountant, five tutors and four National Service personnel, which was grossly inadequate. Mr. Bodi said the Centre also lacked a dinning hall, and a kitchen making it difficult for the admission of students as boarders. The Kofi Annan Foundation, Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District Assembly and development partners in Holland provided materials costing 200 million Euros, while the Dutch Building Brigade from Holland and students from the Institute offered labour.

In a related development, Fifty-nine graduants, being the first batch of students of the Centre, graduated in building construction, general electronic, dressing making, carpentry and joinery and agriculture.