By
Eunice Tekie Tei, GNA
Hweakwae (E/R), Dec.
12, GNA – The Newmont Akyem Development Foundation (NAKDeF) has cut the sod for
work to commence on the Akyem Technical and Vocational Training Institute
(AVTI) for a resettlement community estimated to cost GH¢2.5 million.
The project,
designed to have six departments with 18 to 20 trade areas, has already been
awarded to five local contractors and is expected to be completed within six
months.
The departments
would include Fashion, Cosmetology, Building, Electrical and Construction,
Agriculture/Agribusiness, Home Management and Proposed Mining and Allied
Sciences.
At a ceremony
announcing the project, Mr Paul Apenu, the Executive Secretary for NAKDeF, said
the Foundation was collaborating with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to establish the institute.
It is envisaged that
it would offer competency-based vocational and technical skills to youth of the
community in the short to medium term.
On the partnership
agreement with GIZ, Mr Apenu indicated that they had also implemented a
programme dubbed: Akyem Skills, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development
(A-SEED).
The Programme seeks
to create employable skills and employment opportunities, primarily for the
youth and members of Newmont Goldcorp Akyem Mine communities through the A-SEED
Programme.
There are three
components of the programme: Pempamsie Cooperative Credit Union, Akyem
Vocational and Technical Institute (AVTI), and a Soap Processing Factory.
The construction of
the AVTI brings to two the components that had been accomplished, Mr Apenu
said, adding that they were looking forward to ensuring the third component;
the Soap Processing Factory, was also accomplished.
He commended Newmont
Goldcorp Akyem Mines for creating the Foundation and ensuring communities in
their catchment areas had their share of development projects.
Mrs Grace Otu-Tei, a
Representative of the GIZ, said they would continue to collaborate with NAKDeF
to provide support to the youth.
She urged the youth
to take technical and vocational education seriously to help create employment
for themselves and others.
GIZ has donated two
new buses to be used by the Institute when completed.
Obrempong Kwesi Amoh
Kyeretwie I, the Chief of Abirem, expressed gratitude to the Foundation and GIZ
for the gesture and entreated the contractors to do diligent work.
He assured
financiers of the project the traditional authorities’ preparedness to make
lands available for future expansion of the institute.
GNA
