GHABA calls for assistance to train members

Accra, August 6, GNA - The Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) on Friday called on the Government to support its School of Cosmetology with logistics and infrastructure to enable it to train more professional hairdressers to provide better services.

The School was established in the year 2000 under the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) by GHABA to help upgrade the professional knowledge and skills of hairdressers and afford them the opportunity to receiving formal recognition by awarding them with Diploma Certificates.

The 38 graduates went through a two-year practical and a year's theory programme in modern hairdressing and were awarded Diploma Certificates at GABA's fourth graduation ceremony in Accra. The subject areas included hygiene and sanitation; shampooing and setting; hair styling and cutting; manicure and pedicure; hair relaxing; weave-on and rasta hair do.

Mrs Augusta Olympio, Acting National President of GHABA and Principal of the School, commended NVTI for its support and urged the Government to help to improve the professional status of the students. She said the school was still operating in a rented apartment and called for support to build a school block.

She thanked the Council of Indigenous Business Association, CIBA for initiating a high purchase-financing scheme to provide members of GHABA with inputs and credit facilities to expand their businesses.

Dr Angela Ofori-Atta, Deputy Minister of Employment and Manpower Development, urged the graduates to make prayers an integral part of their profession.

"It is only through prayers that you can sustain your business in the highly competitive hairdressing industry and you must watch out for men, who would only lure you into having immoral affairs and destroying your lives." she said.

She called for the establishment of investment clubs among apprentices through which students could contribute and save to serve as their seed money on completion of their course.

She said such clubs could gain Government's recognition under its micro-financing scheme to enable the members to start their own businesses.

Dr Ofori-Atta urged the graduates to make good use of the opportunities available to them.