Frankadua Vocational Centre slated as Baptist University College campus

Frankadua, March 12, GNA - The Ghana Baptist Convention is consideri= ng making its Vocational Training Center at Frankadua in the Eastern Region a campus of the Baptist University College in Ghana.

This is to stress the importance of vocational and technical skills in the accelerated industrial and economic development of the nation. Reverend David Ocansey, Acting General-Secretary of the Convention sai= d this at the seventh graduation ceremony of the Centre at Frankadua on Saturday.

The Centre which was established in 1998, primarily as a training centre for girls liberated from Trokosi Slavery, had since then trained 300 such girls.

The Centre also has an ICT Department, where people are trained in the software and hardware computer programmes. Rev Ocansey said while the Convention tackled the immediate needs of a= n administrative block, a chapel, staff housing and vehicles for the Centre, it was actively seeking more partnerships to support the Centre's expansi= on plans.

The Danish Mission Council Development Department is the main sponsor of the Trokosi Slaves training programme, providing about 85,000.00 US dollars. Rev Ocansey appealed to the security authorities and other relevant constitutional bodies to stop the practice of Trokosi and other forms of th= e abuse of the rights of women.

Mr Johnson Ehiakpor, Asougyaman District Chief Executive (DCE) observe= d that big business outfits start small and charged the girls to endeavour to pass on the skills to as many people as possible.

Rev Grace Akunor, Manageress of the Center said all nine students registered for the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Exams last year passed, four with distinction.

She appealed for support to raise the Centre's capacity to add highe= r levels of vocational and technical courses to its current portfolio. The graduating students were presented with hairdressing, dressmaking and catering start-up kits to enable them set up. 13 March 11

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