30 APPRENTICES RECEIVE START-UP KITS (PAGE 17, JAN 11, 2010)

THIRTY apprentices in the Atebubu/Amantin District of the Brong Ahafo Region who have successfully completed training in their various trades, have been presented with start–up kits valued at GH¢10,000, under the Technology Promotion and Support to Apprentices Training (TPSAT) programme.
The programme is being implemented by the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), under the Rural Enterprises Project (REP) with a joint sponsorship by the government of Ghana, the International Fund For Agricultural Development Bank (IFAD) and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB).
The apprentices underwent training in hairdressing, barbering, dressmaking, electrical welding, trailoring and carpentry, among others.
Presenting the start-up kits at a ceremony at Atebubu, the Head of the BAC office in the district, Mr Isaac Opoku disclosed that since 2007, 102 unemployed youth who had undergone similar training had benefited from a package and were successfully engaged in their various trades to earn a living.
He indicated that the BAC office was ever prepared to assist any unemployed youth who wanted to engage in small, scale businesses after they had sat and passed proficiency tests conducted by the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI).
Mr Oppong cautioned the beneficiaries of the package against selling their kits, since it was against the law to do so and anyone caught in such an act would face the appropriate sanction.
He commended the district assembly for promptly contributing 25 per cent of the cost of the kits which facilitated the arrival of the equipment in the district.
The District Chief Executive for Atebubu/Amantin, Mr Sanja Nanja, advised the youth not to rely solely on the government for employment but to try and learn trades in order to reduce their poverty levels.
He explained that the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to create employment for the youth did not mean that the government was to provide white colour jobs for them, adding that the provision of the tools was job creation in disguise .
Mr Sanja Nanja also advised against the sale of the package by the beneficiaries or to keep them in their rooms, and encouraged them to train other people so that they could also enjoy a similar package to improve upon their living standards.