GRATIS FOUNDATION SEEKS ASSISTANCE FOR EXPANSION (PAGE 40, NOV 16)

IN 1999, the Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology and Industrial Services (GRATIS) Foundation was incorporated to promote small-scale industrialisation in Ghana.
Its vision was to become a reputable technology development and skills transfer organisation. It was also mandated to provide appropriate technological support for small scale enterprises in the country.
To fulfil its mandate, GRATIS Foundation has been offering both engineering and non-engineering training for technical apprentices and rural people.
The GRATIS Foundation has helped to develop, promote and disseminate marketable technologies and skills for the growth of industry, particularly micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the Upper East Region, .
Over the years, GRATIS has trained more than 600 people in both engineering and non-engineering trades, some of whom have been able to set up their own businesses.
The engineering training includes welding and fabrication and metal machining, which apprentices are supposed to undergo for three years. The non-engineering training has a duration of 10 years and it involves training in batik, tie and dye, cosmetic production and beekeeping, among others.
Apart from the training, the foundation also carries out manufacturing of products to generate some income to support its training activities and operational cost.
Products manufactured include agro- processors, such as corn mills, rice hurlers, threshers and sheabutter kneaders.
The foundation is also engaged in the production of litter bins, farming implements, beds, trolleys, and metal furniture (beds, chairs and desks).
In an interaction with the acting Upper East Regional Manager of the GRATIS Foundation, Mr Ibrahim Kamil, he said since 2007, the foundation in the region had not been able to train people in the non-engineering section due to the withdrawal of donor support and the inability of the government to provide financial support to make the training possible.
According to him, the foundation also faced problems in the apprenticeship training since the people could not afford the training cost which was quite high as a result of the high cost of materials for training.
Mr Kamil said one major challenge facing the foundation was the lukewarm attitude of district assemblies towards the foundation’s activities. That, he explained, had made it difficult for his organisation to secure jobs from district assemblies and other government institutions.
According to him, lack of a separate transformer for the facility had also affected its productivity.
During a tour of the facility by the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, the acting Manager of the foundation made a number of requests, saying if they were honoured, they could go a long way to support government’s efforts at generating jobs for many people.
His first request was for the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to hold periodic meetings with the foundation at least once a quarter to afford it the opportunity to brief the key actors on the foundation’s activities of GRATIS.
Mr Kamil also appealed to the regional minister to influence the award of contracts from other ministries, especially those related to metal works, such as irrigation canal gates, metal beds and chairs for his organisation since that would save cost and also offer employment for the youth in the region.
He proposed that Municipal and District Assemblies should support the youth in acquiring employable skills by sponsoring at least two people each from the district every year.
According to Mr Kamil, the fabrication and supply of student desks and beds should be awarded directly to the GRATIS Foundation.
He called for the renovation of the workshop building to give the centre a facelift, stressing that if the requests were fulfilled, they would enable the centre to generate enough money to support their activities and subsequently become self reliant.
Responding, Mr Woyongo observed that the facilities at the foundation had been under utilised and it was about time something was done about the situation to maximise its benefits and also help in making the youth self reliant.
“That way, we will be helping in eradicating poverty, unemployment and dejection in the region,” he said.
While assuring the management of the GRATIS Foundation of his administration’s support, he also urged them to be proactive through aggressive marketing and advertisements to attract the attention of the public.