Colonel Alex Appiah-Agyapong, Chief Instructor of Joint Studies at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), has said that students of the facility could assist in the formulation of national policies. He was speaking during an interaction of a 16-member team from the College with staff of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), in Ho on Monday. He said the programme dubbed: "Regional Study Tour", was organised for the student groups, who would be expected to undertake one-week study trip simultaneously to the Greater Accra, Eastern, Northern and Upper West Regions. The team led by Colonel Appiah-Agyapong included 12 students, two staff of the College and Dr. Felicia Owusu Fofie, Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Chief Instructor of GAFCSC said the focus of students for this year was on the decentralization process, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with emphasis on the proposed one time premium payment, and the Youth in Agric Programme. He said: "This research is important to the President and it would help in policy formulation", adding that the areas for study were specifically chosen by the President of Ghana. Mr. Godwin Dzansi, Deputy Director at the VRCC, briefed the students on the decentralization process while Ms. Abena Okyerewaa, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Volta Regional Office of the NHIS, sensitised them on operations of the scheme in the Region. Mr. John Tsra-Kasu, Regional Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, also educated them on the Youth In Agriculture Programme. Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister expressed hope that the interaction would promote national planning. Present at the function were Col. Cyril Necku (rtd), Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr. Isaac Kodobisah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive. Source: GNA