That, she said, would not only empower them economically but help mitigate the adverse effects of excessive importation on the exchange rate to position the country on a solid economic path.

“The recent decline in the rate of our currency is testament to the fact that we need to produce most of the things we consume ourselves and reduce importation if we are to avoid the adverse effects of excessive importation on the exchange rate.

“We need to train more skilled workforce to take up the challenge of producing to meet the consumption needs of our country,” she said at the 21st graduation ceremony of the 2nd Image International Skills College in Accra.

The graduation was on the theme: ‘‘TVET: Life Possibilities Despite the Pandemic”

A total of 185 students graduated in Hair and Beauty, Beauty and Spa, Facial Therapy, Cosmetology, Body Massage, Beautician, Hairdressing, Fashion Design, Beauty Specialist and National Proficiency.

Out of the total, 36 were from the Ghana National Tailors Association (GNTDA), fully funded by the government through the CTVET/Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Voucher Project (GTVP).

The project is under the Ghanaian – German Finance Cooperation Co-financed by the German Government through KfW.

The Director of Administration, 2nd Image International Skills College, Clint Boa-Amponsem, appealed for funds to financially support facilitators of TVET.

He said the funds would help the facilitators to acquire higher qualifications and training for the benefit of the nation.

Mr Boa-Amponsem noted that the college lacked resources to support facilitators to help them top up their qualifications.

“Because we do not have such for our facilitators, the Chief Executive Officer of 2nd Image International Skills College, Nikki Boa Amponsem, fought through to be accredited by ITEC, a world qualification examination body which provides leading international qualifications, specialising in Beauty and Spa Therapy, Hairdressing, Complementary Therapies etc,’’ he said.

He encouraged their learners to take part in the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC) examination in addition to their qualifications.

Mr Bernard Badu, National Co-Ordinator (Cocoa Roads), at the Department of Feeder Roads commended the college for helping to reduce unemployment in the country.

Source : Graphiconline