Bibiani(WR), Jan. 21, GNA - The management of Sinapi Aba Trust (SAT), an NGO in collaboration with its development partners is expected to train 427 apprentices at an estimated cost of about 1.9 billion cedis under its Youth Apprenticeship Programme (YEP).
The programme began in the Kumasi Metropolis in August 2003 with 76 apprentices, 60 apprentices in Accra in 2005, 30 apprentices in the Obuasi Municipality and 200 unemployed youth in the Asunafo North and South Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region in 2006.
This was announced by Mr Anthony Gyasi-Fosu, Chief Executive Officer of SAT in an address read on his behalf by Mrs Josephine Adams, Head of Non-Finance Department of SAT at the launching of the programme in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District at Bibiani.
Sixty-one unemployed youth between 19-25 years in the district were presented with various working tools and materials worth 38 million cedis to start apprenticeship training in various trades. The programme is designed to give the disadvantaged poor and vulnerable youth, training and the opportunity to acquire skills to generate their own income to become independent and responsible citizens in society.
Mr Gyasi-Fosu said it had been established by research in various countries that interventions with multi-faceted approaches were required to address the challenges facing the youth and this had led to the inclusion of entrepreneurial training, HIV/AIDS awareness creation, and counselling services in the programme.
He was optimistic that stakeholders, parents, master apprentices and the apprentices would be more committed to ideals of the programme to make it successful.
Mr Kingsley Agyei-Manu, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Chief Executive said the assembly is financing 70 per cent of the estimated 380 million cedis cost for the programme and the rest by SAT. He said the 61 apprentices formed the first batch for the programme in the district.
Mr Agyei-Manu noted that the district was not well developed to provide opportunities for job creation and the limited economic activities required the youth to acquire some skills before they could be employed.
Mr Justice Kwaku Aboagye, a Circuit Court Judge at Bibiani urged the apprentices to work hard, be committed and remained faithful in their endeavours to be successful in their training. He appealed to the assembly to mobilise more resources to support the youth who were desirous to learn a trade.
Mr Thomas Appiah-Mensah, Youth Programmes Co-ordinator of SAT, called on the apprentices to be punctual and be submissive to their masters and parents.
He urged the Master Apprentices to endeavour to complete the syllabuses for the two year programme to enable the apprentices undertake their final examination successfully. 21 Jan. 07
