30 More rural technology facilities to be set up

Thirty additional rural technology facilities (RTFs) are to be established in selected communities to help create more employment opportunities, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has announced.

The establishment of the facilities will cost $15.4million.

Already, there are 21 of such facilities in the 10 regions aimed at introducing new technologies and technical training in order to contribute to employment generation.

Dr Spio-Garbrah made this known at the graduation ceremony for the first batch of technical students from the Goaso and Bechem Rural Technology Facility Training schools at Goaso in the Asunafo North Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Each of the 20 graduates were presented with free start-up tools and machinery at the total cost of GH¢8,500.

Rural Technology Facility (RTF)

The RTF, which is under the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP), is a joint programme by the government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The RTFs introduce new technologies through the training of master craftsmen and technical and traditional apprentices.

They also manufacture agriculture-related equipment and spare parts, undertake field demonstrations to promote new technologies and provide repair services for local communities.

Dr Spio-Garbrah acknowledged that “without technology and innovation, industrialisation will not happen, and without industrialisation, development will not happen.”

He added that in line with the government’s policy to encourage public-private partnerships, all the RTFs were being open to private sector participation.

He entreated the graduates to take good care of their start-up equipment and tools to ensure they derived maximum income in order to improve on their livelihoods.

REP director

The Director of the Rural Enterprises Programme (REP), Mr Kwasi Atta-Antwi, explained that the graduates were taken through three years apprenticeship during which they studied practical technical training in metal machinery, welding and fabrication, entrepreneurship, technical drawing, mathematics and English Language.

At the end of the period, the students sat for the National Vocational and Technical Institute (NVTI) certificate examination before they were certified to graduate.

Mr Atta-Antwi said the graduates would be enrolled as clients of the RTF and business advisory centres to enable them to receive constant support in business creation and management.

Classroom block

As part of the ceremony, Dr Spio-Garbrah inaugurated a three-unit classroom block constructed by the Asunafo North Municipal Assembly for the Goaso RTF at the cost of GH¢125,000.

In his welcome address, the Asunafo North Municipal Chief Executive, Alhaji Mohammed Kwaku Doku, said the assembly would soon complete a hostel for the Goaso RTF to provide accommodation for students from outside the town.