Presbyterian Church committed to partner Government for skills development

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has reiterated its commitment to collaborate and partner the government to provide the requisite training to develop the skills of young Ghanaians.

The Reverend Dr. Kofi Amfo Akonnor, Chairperson of the Ashanti Presbytery who stated this said equipping the youth with technical and vocational skills was crucial to reduce unemployment and support the industrialization agenda of the government.

Sixty five (65) students graduated after receiving skills training in dressmaking, fashion design, electrical installation as well as building and construction.

Rev. Dr. Akonnor said the church believed that skills training and development coupled with godly leadership and sound moral principles, were paramount to prepare the youth to fit properly into the world of work or to be self- employed.

He said the Ramseyer Institute had since its establishment continued to excel in all aspects of its curricula.

The Rev. Dr. Akonnor appealed to the government to expand the free senior high school policy to faith-based skill development and training institutions in the to enable children who entered those schools to also enjoy the policy.

Prof. Akwasi Afriyie, Lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University, said skill development must be linked to the global demand.

“A nation becomes competitive when its skill development, which is a pre-requisite to socio-economic growth is high”.

He stressed the need for the government to improve infrastructure at existing skill training institutions, while creating additional ones with programmes tailored to meet the needs of industry.

Rev, Samuel Asamoa Ayeh-Hanson, Principal of the school, said the school, which was established 42-years ago, had trained about 12,000 people in various technical and vocational skills.

The Institute has now introduced practical agriculture in the areas of poultry production, mushroom farming, maize cultivation and piggery to its training programmes.

The school is also intended to also introduce woodwork, plumbing, and tiling training to make its students more versatile.

Rev Ayeh Hanson pointed out that vocational and technical education was not for drop-outs students as was being wrongly perceived by some people.

He urged the youth to take advantage of the various programmes and enroll to receive skills training for their future.