"Some of the wards were given the ability to learn a trade and excel in them" - Hon. Dr. Anthony Osei Akoto on parents decisions towards children on trade

The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Constituency, Hon. Dr. Anthony Osei Akoto has advised parents to consider the interest of their wards before forcing them to pursue education.

According to the Minister of Monitory and Evaluation, the concern of children is pivotal in any formal or informal education therefore they should be taken into consideration in order to be focused and motivated with whatever they do.

“Parents play a key role in such decisions. We are pleading to them to have it in mind that everyone has a unique skill given by God. Some of them were given the ability to learn a trade and excel in them. We must permit them to.

“For instance, hair dressing is one trade that never cease. Traders in such a field will never be poor. Food selling is also another that has survived the human race for decades so if someone is a food vendor, she will be financially endowed. We have to push many to such areas to serve,” he said

He briefed the media at the Wealth Creation and Social Development Training Center on the 12th Graduation and Fundraising Ceremony held on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Old Tafo Community Center in the Ashanti Region.

The center is a non-governmental one established by Hon. Dr. Anthony Osei Akoto , the then Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning during the former president Kufuor’s administration in fulfillment of his campaign promises to reduce youth unemployment in the constituency and beyond.

Courses offered by the center are Dressmaking, Cookery, Hair Dressing, and Decoration.

English Language, Mathematics and Integrated science are additional subjects included in the courses to trainees to make them versatile and mobile to meet the conditions of the NVTI and NABTEX examination.

61 fashion students, 12 hairdressers, and 20 caterers graduated from the center. Hon Osei Akoto applauded them for their hard work and applauded the organizers for providing them with course assets to start a trade of their own.

“Gone were the days where only hair dressers were given machines to start something but it is a different story today. All the graduates were given items that will help in their trade,” he said.

The wealth creation and social development-training center continues to achieve more success since its establishment about 10 years ago. Th center has been able to train 857 students since 2006.

Students expressed fulfilment in the two-year course and encouraged others to be a part of the school.

“The school has been helpful to me a lot. I knew nothing about how a put pieces of materials together with a sewing machine yet here I stand. The school has really taught me much and I am now a professional seamstress,” a graduate told SoireeNews.

The Board Chairperson, Nana Afia Konadu applauded Hon. Osei Akoto for his inventiveness and support to keep the school going in the midst of challenges.