CEDEPA Ghana Issues Communiqué at Stakeholder Forum on Apprenticeship Training 

Introduction

On Saturday, 28th September 2024, the Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA) convened a Stakeholder Forum at the Northern Regional Library, Tamale under the theme: The Role of Government in Promoting Apprenticeship Training Among Out-of-School Youth. The forum gathered key stakeholders, including policymakers, youth leaders, representatives from the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, and civil society organizations (CSOs), with the common goal of addressing the challenges facing youth apprenticeship training in Ghana.

The event highlighted the critical role of government in promoting apprenticeship programs, particularly for out-of-school youth, and explored actionable strategies for improving the apprenticeship ecosystem to help reduce youth unemployment.

Objectives of the Forum

The primary objectives of the forum were as follows:

To explore how the government can enhance apprenticeship training as a tool to reduce youth unemployment and improve livelihoods, especially among marginalized groups.

To examine existing policies related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and apprenticeship programs, assessing their effectiveness and inclusivity.

To identify challenges and opportunities in the apprenticeship ecosystem, with a particular focus on improving access to apprenticeship training for out-of-school youth in rural areas.

To foster collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and civil society to promote creativity, innovation, and youth empowerment through vocational training.

Key Issues Discussed

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on several key issues affecting the apprenticeship system in Ghana. The discussions covered the following points:

Reducing Youth Unemployment: The forum underscored the role of apprenticeship in providing practical skills that can reduce the high unemployment rate among young people.

Curbing Social Vices: It was noted that by engaging young people in vocational training, the government can address the root causes of various social vices often linked to unemployment.

Promoting Creativity and Innovation: Apprenticeship training was identified as an avenue for nurturing innovation and creativity among young people, thereby fostering entrepreneurial ventures.

Challenges Identified

Lack of Inclusivity in the Free TVET Policy: Participants raised concerns about the limited access to TVET programs for out-of-school youth, particularly in rural and marginalized communities, such as street children and kayayei.

Limited Resources for Craft Masters: Craft masters, who play a pivotal role in training apprentices, often lack adequate training materials and tools, limiting their capacity to deliver quality training.

Political Interference: There were concerns about the lack of transparency and political interference in the provision of support to TVET workers and apprentices, which often undermines the effectiveness of apprenticeship programs.

Inadequate Infrastructure: The forum highlighted the lack of adequate infrastructure for TVET service providers, particularly in rural areas, which hampers the reach and quality of apprenticeship training.

Resolutions and Recommendations

The forum concluded with the following key recommendations to address the identified challenges and enhance the apprenticeship system in Ghana:

Government Collaboration and Policy Reforms

The government should work closely with the private sector, CSOs, and vocational training centers to expand apprenticeship programs and make them more inclusive for out-of-school youth, particularly those in vulnerable communities.

The Free TVET Policy should be expanded to specifically include out-of-school youth, street children, and kayayei to ensure equitable access to vocational training opportunities.

Support for Craft Masters and Trainers

The government should provide financial assistance, equipment, and resources to craft masters to enable them to train apprentices effectively.

Transparency in the distribution of support to TVET sector workers and apprentices is essential. This can be achieved by working directly with recognized sector-based associations to ensure accountability.

Improved Infrastructure and Capacity Building

There should be increased investment in TVET infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to ensure that training centers are adequately equipped to meet the demands of modern apprenticeship programs.

Strengthen policy frameworks that incentivize businesses and industries willing to train apprentices, particularly by offering tax breaks, grants, or other forms of support to encourage participation in apprenticeship schemes.

Call to Action

The Stakeholder forum calls upon the government, private sector actors, development partners, CSOs, and all relevant stakeholders to work collaboratively in implementing these recommendations. By doing so, we can collectively address the youth unemployment crisis and enhance the development of practical skills that are critical to the economic empowerment of young people in Ghana.

The forum also calls for sustained advocacy and engagement at both the local and national levels to ensure that the apprenticeship training ecosystem becomes a viable and sustainable solution to the unemployment challenges facing the nation.

Conclusion

CEDEPA expresses its gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions during the forum. The collective input from the diverse group of stakeholders demonstrates the shared commitment to developing sustainable solutions that empower out-of-school youth through effective apprenticeship training programs.

Together, we can build a brighter future for the youth of Ghana, where skills acquisition and empowerment serve as the cornerstones for national development and progress.

Signed

Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA Ghana)

28th September 2024