THE Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS) has surely come a long way since its establishment in 1987 in the Northern Region. The main focus of GRATIS has been in the development, promotion and dissemination of appropriate technologies and skills for the growth of industries, particularly micro and medium-scale enterprises.
According to the Manager of GRATIS-Tamale, Mr Haruna Seini, his outfit had over the years focused their attention mainly on manufacturing and technology-based training to reflect on the growing needs of the industry and human resource in the metropolis and the northern region at large.
He explained that following the peculiar challenges of the people in the area, the GRATIS had often concentrated attention on the manufacture of processing equipment for groundnuts, cassava, shea butter, rice, cereals and grain extractors.
Others are oven and bread making equipment and gas stove. The rest include; bullock ploughs and carts for donkeys .
Mr Seini further mentioned environment, sanitation and educational equipment such as solid waste containers, garbage push trucks, high level water tank stands, maternity beds and infusion stands as some of their handiwork. Others are lecture hall chairs, metal tables and concrete culvert moulds.
He said “All the above mentioned equipment we have manufactured can be found at various parts of the region where the rural people are using them not only to add value to farm produce, but also serve as means of income generation,” he stated.
The manager further said GRATIS was involved in the empowerment of the youth with the requisite technical, vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-employment.
“The three-year technical apprenticeship training programmes in welding and fabrication are held at the GRATIS centre where training for self-employment is based on both theory and hands-on training on practical jobs. This is coupled with an industrial attachment, entrepreneurial skills training and a competence-based examination,” Mr Seini stated.
Among beneficiaries of the training exercises are university and polytechnic engineering students, who upon completion of their various courses, want to acquire practical knowledge in their respective fields of study.
“In all, we have trained over 400 technical apprentices who are contributing immensely to the economy, most of them are either self-employed or are working in the manufacturing sectors of the economy,” Mr Seini stated.
He said, “In line with GRATIS commitment to disseminate and promote technology, we also train communities in the proper processing of quality shea butter, edible oil, gari and rice, among others”.
According to him, women were also trained in bee-keeping, weaving, batik tie, all of which were aimed at equipping them with income- generating skills.
A beneficiary, Amina Alhassan, who is a mother, had this to say, “My colleagues and I are very grateful to GRATIS for believing in our abilities and proving us with the requisite training in batik tie and dye: It has not only helped me in supporting my two kids in their schooling, but has also afforded me the opportunity to cater for my petty needs”.
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