The Chris Cares foundation apprenticeship phase II programme, has presented sewing machines and hair-drying devices to 54 apprentice trainees to start a two-year technical and vocational training. The programme is fully sponsored by Mr Chris Jojo Arhin Arthur, Parliamentary Candidate for New Patriotic Party for Agona West Constituency. It formed part of the ongoing technical and vocational skills training of 670 youth in the Constituency to equip them with productive employment to better their lives. Mr Arthur has also paid the full cost of apprentice fees of the 54 trainees to their masters for the two year- programme. Additionally, the trainees would also be paid GHC500 monthly stipends to cushion them to go through the training smoothly. Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Swedru in the Agona West Municipality of the Central Region, Mr Arthur, who is also the CEO of Chris Cares Foundation, said that equipping the youth with the needed vocational and technical skills was his topmost priority to h elp reduce abject poverty confronting the youth. He said the Foundation was instituted to identify the youth who were eager to acquire vocational and technical skills and offered them assistance both financially and materially to achieve their aims and objectives. The PC therefore encouraged the beneficiaries to prioritise technical and vocational training and work efficiently to finish on time. He cautioned against indiscipline and laziness as trainees, adding that without hard work and determination it would be difficult to finish the training. Mr Arthur urged the gathering and beneficiaries to support the programme by voting massively for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as President and himself as MP come December 7, to ensure continuation of the programme for others to benefit. Mr Evans Onomah Coleman, Agona West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), urged the trainees and their family members to rally behind the government by retaining it in power to sustain the training programme. He said it was onl y the NPP government that had rolled out good initiatives that shaped the future and destiny of Ghanaians, especially the youth in the country. The MCE urged the youth not to allow the opposition NDC to deceive them with incoherent policies and programmes that would be detrimental to their lives in future. Nana Kwaitu, Abusuapanyin of Oguamaim and a leading member of Swedruman Council of Chiefs praised the CEO of Chris Care foundation for his high sense of responsibility and determination to create opportunity for the youth to acquire technical and vocational skills. Nana Kwaitu cautioned trainees not to forget to vote for the Party during the polls. Some trainees for the phase I programme shared their testimonies by thanking Mr Arthur for not only paying the cost of training and donating sewing machines and dryers but also paying them monthly stipends for their upkeep. Source: Ghana News Agency