In her quest to curb the increasing rate of teenage pregnancy and unemployment in her area, the Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) for the Afram Plains North Constituency in the Eastern Region, Betty Nana Afua krosbi Mensah, has initiated an apprenticeship programs for her constituents.
She presented various items including Deep freezers, Hair Dryers, Sewing Machines, pieces of cloth and rubber basins to women and young girls to help develop themselves and their businesses.
A total of 21 young girls received Sewing Machines, 10received Hair Dryers, 10women benefited from deep freezers to enhance their fishing activities and promote income generation activities.
According to statistics available at the Girl Child Directorate of GES at Afram Plains North District, the District is the second District in the Eastern region with the highest rate of teenage pregnancy cases.
The young lawmaker who double as the Deputy Ranking Member on the Gender, Children and Social Protection Committee and a member of the Health Committee of Parliament described the teenage pregnancy situation as unacceptable and inimical to the development of the area hence her response to the issue.
The donation of the skills training equipment and the free enrollment of the young girls into apprenticeship will therefore help them learn a trade and create employment opportunities for themselves.
This the MP noted will enable them stay away from unwanted pregnancies to enhance the development of the Afram Plains North constituency.
The deep freezers given to the women on a highly subsidized long purchase basis will enhance their businesses.
Speaking on the theme: “Youth Development and Women Empowerment” at the presentation ceremony held on Easter Sunday, the MP assured that the gesture will be replicated to enable more people benefit.
Hon. Betty Mensah entreated all women in the area to help each other in every small way they can to help alleviate poverty in the area.
She disclosed that young boys in the area will also be assisted with training tools and freely enrolled unto any trade of their choice in the coming days.
The Special Guest of Honour and MP for South Dayi Hon Nelson Rockson Kwame Etse Dafeamekpor charged individuals and Corporate institutions to support youth development in their operational areas since government alone cannot bring development.
He urged the beneficiaries to do their best in the payments of the freezers on monthly basis to enable others benefit.
MP for Kpando, Hon. Dela Sowah commended Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah for her hard work both in Parliament and in her Constituency and charged the people of Afram Plains North to support her in her quest to deliver more development in the constituency.
Hon. Betty Mensah also presented double decker refrigerators to the Atakora CHPS Compound, the Donkokrom District Police Command, and a deep freezer to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in fulfilment of a promise she made to the church.
The event was graced by Ruth Dela Seddoh-Deputy National Youth Organizer(NDC), Eastern Regional Vice Chairman of NDC, Mr William Atamudzi, Michael Ofoe Akorli, Deputy Regional Communication officer(NDC), NDC Constituency & Branch Executives-Afram Plains North, Nana Tettey Bampoe II-Chief of Kwaekese, Nana Hemaa Yaa Serwaa, Queen mother of Atakora, Alhaji Fuseini Osumanu-District Chief Imam of Donkorkrom, Mad. Menorkpor Patricia- District Girl child Cordinator (GES),
Officers of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service.