The Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) of Nkoranza South Zone B, Bono East Region, has held a graduation ceremony to celebrate the completion of their three-year apprenticeship programme.

The association provided practical training and motivated members to proactively meet and exceed consumer demands and expectations.

There were 18 graduates given certificates to indicate that they had passed their exams and were qualified to go into the job market to show their talents, and serve their communities.

The training inspired participants to design fashion articles that would make Ghanaians appreciative of local culture, harnessing essential skills and resources.

While the graduation is annual event, this was the first time for the Nkoranza GNTDA Zone B.

In attendance were the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nkoranza North, Patrick Effah, the Bono Regional Chairman of the GNTDA, Amos Effah, chiefs and queen mothers of Nkoranza, among others.

The Nkoranza Zone B Chairman of GNTDA, Francis Kongwie, in an interview with Fabea FM's Apiah-Kubi, noted that tailors and seamstresses played a critical role in human development, appreciating them, too, for their crucial service to all members of society. 

He underlined the critical need for thorough training in fashion, like in all other fields, identifying that the lack of skills was often cited as a major impediment to the employability of youth in Ghana, and that apprenticeship training was a promising avenue that could be utilised effectively to get participants market-ready.

"This is an acute market opportunity for those who graduated, because people will recognise and rely on them for their fashioned outfits; therefore, the graduates need to be proactive after this event," Kongwie said.

He urged them to be poised in their endeavours after they had established their own enterprises.

"I will urge the youth to enroll in the government's apprenticeship programme," Kongwie added.

He said that the apprenticeship programme would continue to promote apprenticeship training to harness the knowledge of the youth and entrepreneurs to deliver market relevant skills in a scalable and potentially cost-effective manner. 

Francis Kongwie prayed the GNTDA graduates would experience success and to improve their circumstances.

Some apprentices, after the graduation ceremony, expressed gratitude to the management for the initiative, saying the training had given them confidence to work to make a living.