CDD-Ghana Hands Over Three Skills Enterprise Centers To Asutifi North District.

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD – Ghana), under its Local Economic Development (LED) programme, has on Tuesday handed a fully equipped three Skills Enterprise Centers (SECs), to the Asutifi North District Assembly (ANDA).

Located at Kenyasi No 1, Ntotroso and Kenyasi No 2, the SECs has trained about 100 youth, women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in employable skills including soap and detergent production, and welding and fabrication.

The project received technical and funding support from the European Union (EU) and supported by ANDA, the Global Alliance for Development Foundation (GADeF) and other partners.

Dr Kojo Asante, the Director of Advocacy and Policy Engagement, CDD – Ghana, in his remarks said the project was aimed at building local entrepreneurial skills to support the rural poor for sustainable economic self reliance.

He indicated that over 80 per cent of the beneficiaries have been supported with start – up capital and equipment to start their own businesses saying that plans are far advanced to support the rest.

The Director noted that stakeholders have developed a sustainability strategy for the project which would be a guide document to the various partners in the district to maintain the facilities and sustain the gains of the project.

“the four – year facilitating role of the project by CDD – Ghana has come to an end. We are gathered here to close the project and to officially hand over all equipment and facilities to ANDA and other stakeholders” he emphasised.

Dr Asante said it was the mission of CDD – Ghana to promote and deepen democratic consolidation, good governance, inclusive growth and development through research, policy engagement, advocacy and capacity building among others.

The Director hailed the commitment of the three Paramount chiefs of Kenyasi No 1, Ntotroso and Kenyasi No 2, and Mr Emmanuel Marfo, the Executive Director of GADeF, towards the successful implementation of the project.

Mr Anthony Mensah, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Asutifi North, expressed profound appreciation to CDD – Ghana for selecting Asutifi North among the districts in the country for the project piloting.

He stressed that the project, which has provided employable skills to 100 youth, women and PWDs, would be maintained and sustained to be a permanent center to benefit thousands of residents of the area and beyond.

The DCE disclosed that apprentices and facilitators at all the training centers adhere to health and safety precautionary measures including wearing of goggles, boots, overall, helmet and cloves among others.

Mr Mensah solicited the support of religious organisations, the various youth groups, and Journalists among other stakeholders in the district to protect the cost – intensive landmark project, to ensure the total growth of the local economy.

The Paramount Chief of Ntotroso Traditional Council (NTC), Barimah Twereko Ampem, who chaired the ceremony was optimistic the replication of the project across the country would drastically reduce rural – urban drift and unnecessary migration.