Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekumah North Constituency, Sheila Bartels, has sponsored the apprenticeship and training of some 10 people in metal fabrications as part of efforts to create employment for the youth in her constituency.
According to the MP, the training programme under the “Empowerment Initiative,” is aimed equipping the trainees with technical skills required in undertaking developmental projects.
“They are expected to learn how to use metals in building bridges. This is because in this constituency, we need footbridges both over roads and water ways, just as other constituencies need.
“We therefore found it prudent to train our own people for the purpose so that when the need arises, we know we have the skilled manpower to undertake the project.”
She spoke to Angel FM’s Kwadwo Baffour in Twi.
Responding to a question about the considerations made during the selection process, Mrs. Sheila noted that the ten were picked based on their “Interest and technical backgrounds.”
The Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Kofi Ofori, lauding the MP for the initiative, indicated that the move will help reduce the importation of skilled labour into the constituency.
“I’m pleased with her efforts, because this will create jobs for the youth here considering the unemployment situation we are faced with. When we want to build bridges, we don’t have to engage labour from outside to construct them. We will give them the project to do for us.”
Among the trainees was a female who spoke to Angel News on how the opportunity given her promotes gender equality.
She said: “The fact that I’m a female and part of this initiative is very good because it clears the perception about women being limited to certain kinds of jobs. I’m also learning a lot from this and they treat all of us equally because they don’t give me a lighter work than the men. So I’m able to learn along the line.”
She added that the skill learned in addition to her future academic pursuits would give her more advantage over others in the competitive world.
However, the MCE advised that the trainees take their lessons seriously for their own good and the collective good of the constituency and urged them to seek help in times of difficulty.
