The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Dr. Kwaku Agyeman – Mensah has lauded the World Cocoa Foundation Agricultural Logistics Skills Development Programme which was launched Tuesday June 14, 2011 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The training programme is designed for Post - Primary and Post – Secondary Ghanaian youth belonging to families who own cocoa farms or live in Kaase and its environs in the Ashanti Region. In his speech, the Regional Minister and chairman for the occasion was full of praise for the programme as he said it will enhance the skills of the youth and qualify them for employment as logistics and warehousing technicians, especially in the cocoa industry. “Many of our youth are unemployed basically because they lack skills that would enhance their chances of employment. It is therefore a welcome development for the World Cocoa Foundation in collaboration with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Safmarine and KNUST to put together this programme to train the people in these important areas of logistics and warehouse management”, he added. Dr. Agyeman – Mensah also advised thirty (30) participants that have been selected for the pilot training to study hard in order to realise the objective of the programme. In a keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. William Otoo Ellis pledged the support of KNUST to the programme and others that will benefit the lives of Ghanaians. He said, “the programme will last for seven months and resource persons will be from our school [KNUST] with other guest lecturers from the industry”. “At the end of the programme, participants are expected to have been equipped with knowledge in logistics, transportation, supply chain, warehousing and other skills. Those who have the desire for further academic training will also have the opportunity to pursue the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT – UK) Certificate and Diploma programme in Logistics offered by the Business School”. Prof. Ellis concluded by thanking all the partners and supporters involved in the initiative. Story by David Apinga, Focus FM, KNUST, Kumasi