38 trained in employable skills (14/1/09)

THIRTY EIGHT marginalised and vulnerable people made up of the physically challenged, ‘kayayei’, and truck pushers, have acquired employable skills in batik tie and dye, computing, beadmaking, catering and entrepreneurial skills.
The trainees comprising 20 females and 18 males undertook the three months training, aimed at improving upon their lives and those of their families.
The training was sponsored by the Self-Help Initiative Support Services (SISS), a non governmental organisation (NGO), which would also assist each of the trainees with a start up capital to enable them set up their own businesses.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony at Agbogbloshie in Accra, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda, Mr Yaw Owusu-Boateng, advised the trainees to work with determination and persistence to be able to succeed.
“When you work, money will come into your pockets, but if you do not work, you won’t get your share of the national cake ” he stated.
He advised them to make good use of their start up capital.
The Project Manager of SISS, Mr Yaw Asante, called on the government, individuals and benevolent organisations to assist the NGO to enable it train and equip more vulnerable people in the society.
He also appealed to individuals and organisations to allow the trainees do practical attachments in their establishments to gain some practical experience.
Mr Asante invited individuals, parents and guardians who wanted to benefit from their training facilities to take advantage of the ongoing recruitment of fresh trainees.
A physically challenged trainee, Mr Samuel Korsah, thanked the management of SISS for helping them acquire skills in the various disciplines.
He said they were going to work hard with the skills acquired, in order to help contribute to the development of the nation.
Mr Cecil Kojo Forde, a Financial Consultant at PriceWater HouseCoopers, who chaired the function urged the trainees to work with punctuality and develop good customer relations in order to be ahead of their competitors.
He also advised them to develop the habit of investing their profits to make their business grow.