Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has inaugurated a newly constructed Public Employment Centre (PEC) at Odomase in the Sunyani West Municipality to support skills development for job creation and poverty reduction.

The Centre has an entrance terrace, reception and waiting area, offices, counselling rooms, conference halls, general and records offices as well as kitchenette, washrooms, and a car park.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said the Centre was one of 16 constructed nationwide under the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP) that served as a frontline labour market services to the public in accordance with the Labour Act, 2003.

He urged the chiefs and people of the Bono Region, especially the youth, to make good use of the Centre to meet their employment, skills, and career development needs.

Speaking on the theme for the inauguration, “Improved Capacity for Skills Development and Job Creation” at a ceremony held at Odomase, the Municipal capital, Mr Baffour-Awuah, also the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, said it would further provide opportunities for the government to enhance the capacity of the Labour Department at all levels.

The event was attended by traditional authorities, religious groups, Heads of Departments and Agencies and some members and supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr Baffour-Awuah explained that the Centre would provide a range of services, including employment counselling, job placement, and employable skills training among others.

“The Labour Department has tried, under difficult conditions to provide labour market and employment promotion services to employers and job seekers,” he stated, and underlined the need to tackle pertinent challenges regarding the collection and dissemination of data related to interactions in the labour market confronting the Department.

He said the PECs would therefore provide avenues for job seekers to inquire about available job vacancies, post their career profiles on the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS), and interact with employers.

Additionally, Mr Baffour-Awuah explained that the PECs would provide access to a wide range of labour market resources, enabling job seekers to study emerging trends, acquire in-demand skills, and adjust their career paths to meet the demands of the workforce.

He advised job seekers in the area to capitalise on the PECs to inquire, and seek available vacancies for jobs.

The PECs formed part of the government’s commitment to supporting the youth in the country to acquire employable skills for gainful employment.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said he was optimistic that the PECs would contribute to the development of critical skills for national economic transformation, minimize skill mismatches, and reduce unemployment.

He later donated a pickup vehicle to the Centre to help organize outreach programmes, undertake job canvassing, and engage other stakeholders for quality service delivery.