150 People trained in income-generating ventures

The Ghana International Foundation for Trade and Entrepreneurship (GIFTE) has organised a three-month training in income-generating ventures for 150 young men and women at Akposo-Kabo in the Biakoye District in the Volta Region.
The beneficiaries, made up of 140 females, who have little or no formal education, were drawn from the surrounding communities. The organisers intend to expand the programme to cover such areas as Tapa Abotoase, Nkonya, Kpando and its environs.

They were trained in soap-making, tie-dye and batik, bakery, screen-printing, pastries and pomade making.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Mr Daniel Antwi, Director of GIFTE, said so far 2,820 young people drawn from parts of the country, had been trained between 2003 and 2013.

He, however, mentioned inadequate funds to cater for the feeding cost of trainees and lack of transport, as some of the challenges facing the organisation in its quest to empower the youth and reduce poverty.

Madam Grace Teye, a participant, was very grateful to the organisation and pledged their preparedness to put the knowledge  and skills acquired to use for the benefit of other people who did not benefit from the programme.

The assemblyman of the Akposo-Kabo Electoral Area, Mr Nelson Atsu, advised the participants to form groups or co-operatives to enable them to access financial support.  He advised the participants to adopt good branding methods and aggressive marketing skills to make them more productive.

The Biakoye District Chief Executive, Nana Louis Akattah, expressed satisfaction at the commitment of the participants and called on them to strive hard to achieve professional excellence in their chosen skills.

Nana Akattah, who urged the participants to see their skills as an alternative means of livelihood to improve upon their standard of living, advised them to adhere strictly to the customer satisfaction approach to make a positive impact on their areas of operation.

By Emmanuel Modey/Daily Graphic/Ghanaa