Rural Technology Facility reduces urban migration in Upper East
The Rural Technology Facility Project since its inception in some rural districts in the Upper East Region has helped curb the spate of urban migration among the youth in the area.
Mr Emmanuel Andema, the District Chief Executive of the Kassena-Nankana East District, announced this at the annual clients’ exhibition and trade of the Rural Enterprise Project at Navrongo in the Upper East Region, on Tuesday.
He said, for instance, in the Kassena-Nankana East alone, 1,303 artisans had been taught skills in various trades and 377 beneficiaries certificated in National Vocation and Training Institute (NVTI) with 142 being females and 235 males.
It has also admitted 10 trainees in metal works, welding and fabrication, who, on graduation would be supported with start-up kits to set up their own businesses.
He said the facility had also provided 1050 metal wood combination chairs for Navrongo Senior High, Notre Dame Senior High and Awe Senior Schools in the District.
He said through the Business Advisory Centre of the Rural Enterprise Project, people in the area, especially the youth, had received community based training, Credit Management Training, Small Business Management, Group Dynamics, Technology Promotion and Credit Support among others.
“Five hundred and ninety four people have been trained in soap making, Bee Keeping, Guinea Fowl rearing, Baking and Confectionary, Batik and Tie Dye, Pomade and Food making”.
Mr Andema said the provision of start-up kits to graduate apprentices had made it possible for most of the trained young people to put their acquired skills into use leading to the reduction of youth migration to the south for menial jobs.
“The facility is not curbing rural urban migration in the Kassena Nankana East District alone but the four remaining districts in the Region where it is operating”, Mr Andema said.
Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, explained that the facility had helped address a lot of problems, including lack of employable skills among Ghanaian youth, especially, after school.
He called on the Management of the Rural Enterprise Facility to extend the project to the other districts in the Region that were not benefiting.
Mrs Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, entreated the beneficiaries of the project to continue to improve upon their products and link with their colleagues in the other regions to market their goods.
“Clients exhibition and trade of the Rural Enterprise Project, held in Navrongo, this year, is expected to help link up the clients to marketing avenues in neighbouring African countries and the choice of Navrongo as the venue for the 2011 show will create market linkages with neighbouring Burkina Faso,” the Project Coordinator of the Rural Enterprise Project, Mr Kwasi Attah-Antwi said
The 200 clients displayed products, including agro-processed products, agriculture and forest products, textiles and garments, beads, cosmetics and detergents, leather works, pottery, farm implements and cooking utensils, among others.
Source: GNA