Commercial sex workers undergo training

Kumasi, Feb 6, GNA-The Neglect Foundation, a Street Children Advocate Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is currently giving employable skills training in hairdressing to 13 commercial sex workers in Kumasi to enable them resettle and lead decent lives.

Mr George Owusu-Afriyie, Executive Director of the Foundation, who announced this, said the training began last week and would end in July this year, and it formed part of the foundation's recently launched GARFUNF project.

The project is aimed at sensitising market women, petty traders, street children and commercial sex workers on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mr Owusu-Afriyie was addressing a sensitisation forum on HIV/AIDS organised by the foundation for market women, commercial sex workers and petty traders at the Race Course in Kumasi at the weekend. It was sponsored by the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

Mr Owusu-Afriyie indicated that after completing the training, the NGO with support from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), would give the trainees some seed money to start their own trade.

He disclosed that a similar training in soap making, batik tie and dye would be organised for 20 identified street male children by August this year when the second phase of the GARFUND project starts. He advised the trainees not to take delight in streetism but strive to be committed to the training and apply the skills they have acquired more profitably.

Mr Anthony Agyemang, the Kumasi metropolitan Director of Social Welfare, commended the foundation for their care for street children and advised the youth to plan their lives well in order not to give birth to children who may turn out to be liabilities on society. Feb. 06 05