Vice President of Ghana Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has emphasized on the critical role of modernizing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in driving Ghana’s industrial and economic growth.
He was speaking at the official launch of the Ghana Apprenticeship Programme (GAP) in Accra on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, as a significant move towards revolutionizing Ghana’s industrial and economic landscape. The launch of the Ghana Apprenticeship Programme (GAP) was well supported with funds from the government of Ghana, the World Bank, and the German government.
The Vice President’s visionary address highlighted the urgent need to align TVET with industry demands to propel national development.
“The critical need for enhancing skills development and addressing unemployment challenges in Ghana, the Ghana Apprenticeship Programme emerges as a transformative initiative with funding from the government of Ghana, the World Bank, and the German government through KFW Development Bank. The comprehensive program, this Ghana Apprenticeship Program, endeavors to support competency-based training apprenticeship for a total of 50,000 individuals through the implementation period.”
“The primary goal of the Ghana Apprenticeship Programme is to be the overarching program that provides apprenticeship training tailored to the needs of the people and the demands of contemporary jobs, fostering a bridge between traditional apprenticeship systems and modern employment requirements.”
The Vice President’s speech shed light on the significant impact of the GAP in empowering Ghanaian youth with industry-relevant skills to drive economic development.
Director-General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Dr. Fred Kei Asamoah shared his long-term vision for the GAP as an integral part of Ghana’s education system.
“The long-term plan for this is for it to be a household program that is part of the Ghanaian system. We talk about the German dual system, and it’s part of their system.”
“The program should also be part of the system to complement the mainstream TVET system. So, in this country, we can’t ever think of somebody not having skills or being worried about what kind of employment.”
The launch of the Ghana Apprenticeship Programme signifies a transformative step towards equipping Ghanaian youth with practical skills tailored to meet industry demands, fostering economic growth and sustainable development in the nation.
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Story by: Lartey Ebenezer | univers.ug.edu.gh
