By: News Desk | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Eunice Ahortor who deals in locally made oil is excited that her sales have increased after improving the packaging on her oil product. She added that “I now get calls from other parts of the region and the country for my product, all because of the new packaging.”
Janet Ama Duho who was finding it very difficult to save said that has changed; “Initially I did not understand the importance of saving, but for the past two years of receiving training from ENA’s adult literacy program, Daily savings is now part of me.”
These are two out of 47 persons who graduated from an adult literacy programme run by the Engage Now Africa (ENA). The programme which covered four communities in the Central Tongu District in the Volta Region was run in phases over a period of two years. The communities are; Adidome, Amelorkope, Tsetsekpo and Avakpodome.
Beneficiaries were taught how to read and write and also trained in batik tie and die, bead making, liquid soap making, powder making; among others. They were also awarded certificates for coming out successful from the programme.
This initiative is huge for a district that has about 30 percent of its about 60,000 population (According to 2010 Population Census), not being literate. Although unemployment rate is high, the mostly rural population has a lower economic activity, since most employment activities are on a much smaller scale. This somewhat affects household living standards and dependency rate.
According to the UNDP, some 750 million adults globally; two thirds of them women, remained illiterate in 2016. A quarter of the global illiterate population lives in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana.
Despite the many interventions by successive governments to increase access to education and training; most of the interventions have focused on children and adolescents than on adults. The rising population has also led to increased unemployment rate, especially among the youth and adults; the same category of people who have the agility to work and cater for their families.
It is for this reason and more that ENA in partnership with Alma House undertook a literacy programme to improve the lives of the youth and adults in the Central Tongu district of Ghana.
According to the Country Director of ENA, Ghana, like many developing countries still lack basic infrastructure and facilities to provide effective learning environments right from the primary to the tertiary level. These challenges also persist in the area of skills training.
She was hopeful that literacy programme in the district will go a long way to close the employment gap, grow the local economy, stimulate innovation and facilitate an overall sustainable growth in the area.
Stella Charles, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alma House encouraged the beneficiaries to constantly practice all they have acquired, teach others and work together as working individually slows progress.
She observed that the programme is to ensure those who do not have access to formal education also get some form of inclusive and quality education and skill training irrespective of age and circumstances, because “education has no end it is a lifelong thing.”
Togbe Kwasinyi Agyeman IV, Chief of Adidome was optimistic that the training will improve the living standards of beneficiaries and their dependents.
Samuel Gomashie, the District Director of the Business Advisory Center (BAC) said, his outfit and the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) always open to provide services to micro, small and medium scale enterprises and urged beneficiaries and the public not to hesitate to call on them should they have any challenges.
He observed that the rippling effect of the training goes a long way to fulfill the both national and global targets of development which is worthy of replication in every part of Ghana.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
