Kwaebibirem District Assembly distributes sewing machines

Kade (E/R), Nov. 22, GNA - The Kwaebibirem District Assembly on Sunday distributed 155 sewing machines free of charge to apprentices and seamstresses at separate ceremonies at Kade and Akwatia as part of the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Speaking at the ceremonies, the District Chief Executive, Mar Yaw Yiadom-Boakye explained that the Assembly decided to procure the sewing machines for those in need so that they could work to enhance their productivity and thereby help reduce unemployment.

He said each Assembly member was asked to select two needy women in their electoral area for the assitance.

He noted that because of the problem involved in the recovery of the poverty alleviation fund loans, emphasis now would be placed on the procurement of tools for those, who had learnt some trade but needed tools to be self-supporting.

Mr Yiadom-Boakye said it was the Government's policy to help as many people as possible to learn some trade and equip them to generate employment and not to look only for public-sector jobs.

He said masons and carpenter would also be assisted, noting that a number of hairdressers in the district were provided with hair driers. Mr Fred Asante, a Member of the Council of State and a Member of the Atiwa District Assembly, praised the Kwaebibirem District Assembly for the "wonderful gesture", which he said, was worthy of copying by other district assemblies, especially, given the problem of re-payment of poverty reduction loans.

He described the idea as new, good and realistic and said it was necessary to ensure that beneficiaries were really those, who needed the assistance and not family members and relatives of assembly members. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Mr K. A. Kisi asked the recipients to make good use of the machines to earn a living and not to sell them or keep them under their beds to gather dust.

Mr Ofosu Asamoah, MP for Kade, urged the youth to take advantage of training programmes being offered them by the Government so that on completion, they could be assisted to set up their own businesses and in turn train others.