Atwima Koforidua Presby Organizes Skill Training Programme For Its Members

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Emmanuel Congregation at Atwima Koforidua has initiated a training programme for its members to acquire some skills that will make them self-employed as small scale manufacturers.

The 26 beneficiaries who completed an intensive five-day programme during which they learnt processes to manufacture 21 different types of soap and detergents as well as brown sugar and sanitizer gel among others was each awarded a certificate.

Addressing the beneficiaries at a special ceremony that coincided with last Sunday’s normal church activity, the Minister-in-charge, Rev. Genevieve Noble-Eshun urged them to make good use of the entrepreneurial skill acquired by establishing their own small scale businesses.

She drew their attention of the beneficiaries to a common Biblical principle which enjoins Christians to be resourceful so they do not go hungry and said through the training programme they have been set on a straight path to generate income and also to help create jobs for the benefit of others.

Rev Noble-Eshun assured the beneficiaries of the church’s continued support spiritually and physically as a way of motivating or encouraging other members of the church to also benefit from the initiative to create jobs.

The sole resource person for the programme, Catechist Jeff Emmanuel Kwame Adjei ,who is also the CEO of Master of Skill Enterprise said all materials the beneficiaries may need to go into a full-scale manufacturing of their products as small scale entrepreneurs are available on the local market so the problem of lack of raw materials does not arise at all in pursuing their goals.

He said the training programme focused on the manufacture of products which are indispensable in meeting urgent domestic needs like washing and cleaning.

“ Therefore the issue of demand backed by supply will not pose any challenge so long as they put into practice what they have been taught .
He was happy about the support offered by the Church and also acknowledged that all the trainees showed total commitment to the training.

“They all deserve the certificates awarded them because they won it on merit and therefore qualify to be small scale entrepreneurs who can employ others. What if left is for them to practice with all seriousness what they have been taught.” Catechist Adjei said.

The Atwima Nwabiagya North Manager of the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) Madam Priscilla Opoku- Mensah who came to grace the occasion said gaining the entrepreneurial skill is the wisest decision the beneficiaries have taken to get out of poverty.

She noted, “There is no doubt that the skill training programme has prepared them adequately to generate extra income whether they are start-ups or are already engaged in a venture because they have been equipped with what is needed and taught what it takes to be resourceful which amounts to wealth creation.”

Some of the beneficiaries shared their experiences.

According to Miss Oprah Anakwah, who is a student she will first apply two of the multiple skills acquired before adding the others in her income generation bid.

Another beneficiary, Mr. Edward Akwasi Boateng, who claimed to have attended other training programmes elsewhere commended the resource person for giving them a training which was in-depth and with a difference.

Also at the service a special fire safety education was organize for the members .

Station Officer One Mr. Steven Addai, of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said the rampant cases of fire outbreaks should be of concern to Ghanaians and urged the congregation to be cautious of their electrical connection a and the type of gadgets they use.

He said it is critical for each household to have at least one fire extinguisher as a device to apply the moment there is fire outbreak or to know how to use the simple method of quenching fire from a gas cylinder using a wet blanket or napkin.

Mr. Addai cautioned that not all fire extinguishers on the market meet the required standards and urged the congregation to be selective in making their choices by always looking out for the best quality whose price may be slightly higher.