The Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai District Assembly in the Western region has procured training equipment worth ¢340 million to assist 50 vulnerable youth in the area to undergo skills training. In addition, the assembly with the support from Rural Enterprise Project (REP) donated workshop kits worth ¢60 million to 33 graduate apprentices under the graduate apprentice support fund of the assembly. The beneficiary graduate apprentices were made up of eight hairdressers, seven auto electricians, six auto mechanics, four carpenters, three dressmakers, one blacksmith, one electric welder, one gas welder and two barbers. Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Bibiani last Friday, Mr Kingsley Adjei-Manu, the District Chief Executive, said the establishment of the graduate apprentice start-up fund by REP would reduce poverty and improve the standard of living of the people in the poor rural communities by making them employable. He said the assembly collaborated with the REP to operate an apprenticeship training programme to equip as many youth as possible with technical and entrepreneurial skills to set up their own small business ventures. The DCE said the Rural Technology Facility has trained 454 artisans including 128 females in various trades and programmes at the cost of 91 million cedis. Mr Adjei-Manu advised the beneficiaries to take good care of the equipment and said the assembly's evaluation team would assess and evaluate their performances in order to put them on track. Mr Amoako Adjei, Officer in-charge of Technology Promotion and Support of REP in the district, said the programme was being undertaken in 18 districts nationwide and forms part of government's broad programme to reduce poverty in the rural areas. Source: GNA