By Dennis Peprah
Nsoatre, (Bono), May 15, GNA-The Social Investment Fund (SIF) has handed-over the site for the construction of GHC6.5 million ultra-modern Climate Resilient Centre at the Nsoatre Technical and Vocational Institute (NVTI) in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region to the contractor.
The Accra-based TRACEF Construction and Engineering Limited is putting up the centre under the ‘Rebuilding Youth and Women’s Livelihoods through Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation’ component of the Post COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Project (PSDPEP).
Expected to be completed within 12 months, the centre is designed to focus on wood technology, fashion design, and digital skills.
It will also be furnished with modern equipment to provide students with practical competencies that align with emerging labour market demands and promote sustainable livelihoods.
Mr MacDonald Acquah, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist handed-over the site on behalf of Mr Abass Adams-Nurudeen, the Chief Executive Officer of the SIF at a ceremony, held at the NVTI campus at Nsoatre.
He explained that the project was constructing additional three Technical Skills Development Centres at the Otaakrom Technical Institute in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, Abetifi Technical Institute in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern region and the St. John’s Vocational/Technical School in the Nandom Municipal of the Upper West region.
Mr Acquah urged the cooperation and support of the traditional authorities as well as the management and students of the institute to enable the contractors to speed up and complete the project on time.
He also advised the contractor to adhere strictly to the approved designs, timelines, quality standards, and all environmental and safety requirements.
Mr Acquah called on the contractor to pay particular attention on environmental safeguards, climate change considerations, social inclusion, and gender issues, saying that the AfDB attached great importance to those aspects of the project.
In a brief background, he explained that in June 2022, the Government signed a five-year (2022–2027) agreement with the African Development Bank to implement the PSDPEP.
The project is financed through a grant facility of US$28.5 million and seeks to contribute to Ghana’s sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery in the health sector, while supporting the restoration of livelihoods, income, employment opportunities, and private sector development.
“So, this handover grants the contractor full possession and responsibility in accordance with the contract agreement and further authorizes the contractor to mobilize resources and commence works as scheduled, effective from this date,” he stated.
Mr Kwasi Asante-Boateng, the Sunyani West Municipal Chief Executive, noted that the municipality chosen from the 276 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the country to benefit from the project underscored the need for the NVTI and the entire chiefs and people of Nsoatre to remain grateful to the government.
He advised the students to also take proper care of government properties, take their training seriously and acquire employable skills to build a better future for themselves and their families.
Mr Asante-Boateng cautioned the students against engaging in acts of lawlessness, and rather respect authority, while urging their tutors to redouble their efforts as the assembly also focused on addressing some teething challenges confronting the institute.
Mr Gabriel Gyamfi, the Bono Regional Director of the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) described the training centre as welcoming amid progressive industry-driven world.
He emphasised that the government was rapidly reforming TVET education, focusing on providing academic-industry opportunities for TVET schools, saying that the project would serve as a centre for excellence for the region to boost practical studies.
Mr Gyamfi added that the government had given financial clearance to engage more TVET tutors and called for stakeholder support to improve physical infrastructure development at the NVTI.
Nana Korang Asimpi, the Gyaasehene (sub-chief) of the Nsoatre Traditional Council expressed appreciation to the government for the project, and assured the council’s cooperation and support to facilitate speedy construction of the project.
He said the traditional council was ever prepared to release lands for government projects and to bring the development of the area to the next level.
Earlier in a welcoming address, Mr Alexander Sabi, the Principal of the NVTI, noted that the centre would not only benefit the institute, but the entire Bono region, saying that it would enhance practical skill training, youth empowerment and employability.
He said the institute could grow steadily through improved infrastructure development and therefore appealed to the government and stakeholder support for additional workshops, staff common office, decent washroom facilities, dining and assembly hall and kitchen.
Mr Sabi said with the present students population of 1,169, the school needed a fence wall to help address emerging security challenges to ward off criminals who often invaded and attacked tutors and students.
He also appealed for 10 streetlight bulbs to improve security as well as more furniture for both students and tutors.
The event was attended by Mrs Abigail Agyemang, a Budget Analyst at the Ministry of Finance and Mrs Stella Arthur, Administrative Secretary at the SIF as well as some representatives of KNAK Design Partnership, the project consultant.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Story by Dennis Peprah
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