The Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFIC), in partnership with the Volta River Authority (VRA), has distributed 1,000 books on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to 13 senior high schools in the Krobo enclave in the Eastern Region at Akuse.
The presentation of the novel practical handbook on the AfCFTA to the schools, which is authored by the GITFIC, is aimed at sensitising the country and the SHS students in particular to have a fair knowledge of what AfCFTA is all about.
The books are to be kept in the libraries of the beneficiary schools for reading and research on AfCFTA and its activities.
Beneficiary schools
The beneficiary schools included Adjena Senior High Technical, Anum Presbyterian SHS, Akwamuman SHS, Boso SHS, Apeguso SHS and Akosombo VRA International School, all in the Asuogyaman District.
The rest were the Krobo Girls SHS, Akro Senior High Technical, Akuse Methodist Senior High Technical, Manya Krobo SHS, all in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal; Asesewa SHS in the Upper Manya Krobo District, Yilo Krobo SHS and Klo-Agogo SHS, both in the Yilo Krobo Municipality.
Presentation
Presenting the books to the heads of the beneficiary schools at the Akuse Club House, the Director of Research at GITFIC, Gerald Wood, said the distribution of the books to the second cycle institutions was aimed at creating human and social capital through education and skills revolution that emphasised innovation, science and technology.
He said Africa must spend significantly in higher education if it was to implement the AfCFTA successfully.
“To maximise the benefits of AfCFTA, Africa’s education and training institutions would need to be reoriented to meet the knowledge, competencies, skills, innovation and creativity needed to foster African core values and advance sustainable development at the regional, sub-regional and continental levels,” Mr Wood emphasised.
He said the government should invest in education and skills development towards educational reforms that would enable young people to participate freely in the socio-economic development of the nation.
Key partners
The Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, who was represented by the Director of Finance, Paul Seniagya, said VRA as key partners and a vehicle for national development, the Authority and AfCFTA had the common objective to improve the economic and social development of the country and the sub-region, stressing, therefore, that ‘’this initiative is not out of place”.
Mr Antwi-Darkwa said VRA over the last 62 years had been committed to skills development through its support to education in its various operational areas as part of measures being put in place to prepare the future leaders when their time was due to take the mantle of leadership and service.
The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Director of Education, Samuel Kwesi Tettey, was grateful to the GIFTIC and VRA for the initiative.
A student of Krobo Girls Senior High School, Doris Aidoo, assured the benefactors that the books they received were going to enhance their knowledge on AfCFTA issues.
Source: Graphic online
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