Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Tourism, has said that government would collaborate with vocational institutions and adopt pragmatic measures towards the development of the tourism industry.
She said that the Ministry was impressed with the success being chalked by these institutions, especially the increase in the number of youth undertaking training to acquire professional skills to enhance their capacity so that the could contribute to the development of industry.
Mrs. Okaikoi was speaking at the 23rd Graduation Ceremony, organised by EKGS Culinary Institute for 130 grandaunts who undertook six weeks vocational training.
It was dubbed "Meeting International standards-Ghana's culinary industry in perspective" in Accra on Saturday.
She appealed to EKGS and other vocational institution to apply local or ingenious cooking techniques in the preparation of their dishes to promote the country's culture and make dishes attractive, to promote tourism.
"There is nothing that tells more about a people than the kind of food they eat" she added.
Mrs. Okaikoi called on the grandaunts to set up scale business and take advantage of government's Small and Medium Enterprises initiative and expand the activities.
Mrs Afua Goode-Arthur, Director of EKGS, said that the Institution would continue to train students to be able to compete on the international market adding that " The Institution would introduce the Wilton (USA) Method of Cake Decorating and present students with Wilton Certification to expose them to international trends in culinary industry."
Mrs. Arthur said that EKGS would give credit facilities and counselling on how to run business, to old students to keep them abreast with the new development in the industry.
She said that EKGS would award scholarships to two needy but brilliant students every session.
Mrs. Arthur said that some students would be attached to leading hospitality organisations in the country to expose them to the working
environment.
She called on government to facilitate international exchange programmes with well established institutions abroad, and extend credit with soft terms to vocational institutions to enhance their ability to train more youth to acquire employable skills.
Mrs. Arthur advised the graduates to be truthful, patient, industrious and respectful to their prospective clients.
Mrs Averil Aning Yeboah, High Court Judge in Accra, congratulated the grandaunts and called on government to support vocational institutions to
enable them to train the youth to acquire entrepreneurial skills.
The grandaunts mounted cake, pastry and floral exhibition.