Two Public Employment Centres (PECs), funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (GIZ), were on Tuesday inaugurated at Berekum and Techiman in the Bono and Bono East Regions.
They were handed over to the Labour Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to provide jobseekers with career counselling, skills development programmes and access to meaningful employment opportunities and to support employers in identifying talents to drive economic growth.
Speaking at the handover ceremony at Techiman and Berekum, the Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ghana, Massimo Mina, said the centres represented a significant milestones in efforts to strengthen Ghana’s employment ecosystem with the goal of improving access to career guidance, job placement services and skills development opportunities for the youth and Jobseekers.
The newly built facilities with the state- of-the- art equipment, he noted, would play a critical role in providing jobseekers with carrier counseling, skills development programmes and access to meaningful employment opportunities to support employers in identifying talents to drive economic growth.
He emphasised that the centre would ensure that Ghanaian Youth have the tools to thrive locally, thereby reducing the need to migrate irregularly in search of opportunities elsewhere.
“These centres stands as a symbol of our commitment to fostering sustainable development.” he stated.
The Country Director of GIZ, Dr Dirk ABmann, in a remark said the Public Employment Centres being built across the country represent a bold vision for transforming employment services in Ghana.
“It will not only help jobseekers secure employment but also empower them to build sustainable and meaningful carriers in ever-evolving job market” he stressed.
The GIZ Country Director also announced that the offices are being equipped with essential equipment and logistics to keep them running effectively.
The Bono East Regional Minister, Kwasi Adu Gyan, expressed gratitude to the EU and GIZ for the project, indicating that these centres had given the labour department a face-lift in their operations
This, he noted, would help address irregular migration in the country, especially in the area.
He commended GIZ for providing five Navara pick -ups and other logistics to the PEC’s offices in order to enhance their operations.
FROM DANIEL DZIRASAH TECHIMAN