Stakeholders Call for Enhanced Government Support for TVET and Apprenticeship Training for Out-of-School Youth in Ghana

The Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA Ghana), on Saturday 28th September 2024, held a Stakeholder Forum at the Northern Regional Library, Tamale. The forum brought together over 90 participants, comprising heads of decentralised government departments and agencies, about 15 civil society organisations, as well as 11 Artisanal Associations, women and youth group leaders, including the Northern Regional Youth Network. The forum was centered on the theme, The Role of Government in Promoting Inclusive TVET and Apprenticeship Training for Out-of-School Young People in Ghana. The event aimed to highlight the importance of TVET and Apprenticeship in addressing youth unemployment and fostering innovation and skills development among out-of-school youth in Ghana.

The forum began with a welcome address delivered by Project Lead at CEDEPA Ghana, Mr. Ziblim Alhassan. In his address, Mr. Alhassan provided a background on the organization’s activities, emphasizing its focus on poverty alleviation and youth empowerment. He noted that TVET and apprenticeship training hold the key to reducing the rising rate of youth unemployment, promoting innovation, and addressing social issues in Ghanaian communities.

TVET and apprenticeship training is critical, especially for young people. It provides them with the necessary skills and knowledge to create jobs and become self-reliant, thereby reducing unemployment and mitigating social vices, said Mr. Alhassan.

He further called on the government and all relevant stakeholders to collaborate more effectively to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Ghana’s free TVET Policy. He stressed the need for government to expand the free TVET policy to cover young people who are out of school, so that they can also enroll for free in any apprenticeship programmes in the TVET Schools and get certified to validate the skills and knowledge gained. According to him, certification of technical skills would provide young people with greater opportunities in the job market and empower them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Amankona Ampofo, who chaired the forum, reiterated the importance of skills acquisition beyond formal education. He advised participants, particularly the youth, not to rely solely on traditional University or tertiary certificates but to pursue technical and vocational training as well.

Skills are transferable, but certificates are not. It is essential to understand that while formal education is important, skills acquired through technical and vocational training provide practical solutions to real-world problems, Mr. Ampofo remarked. He stressed the role of TVET in preparing young people for the ever-evolving labor market, equipping them with adaptable skills to meet the needs of industry. He however, appealed to Proprietors of the private apprenticeship training centres to reduce financial and material charges on apprentices during their pass-out ceremonies, since that was making apprenticeship very expensive to many deprived young people.

The representative of the Northern Regional Minister and Director in charge of Community Development at the Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Albert Anamoo, echoed the government’s commitment to TVET as a crucial part of its national development agenda. He stated that the theme of the forum aligned perfectly with the government’s focus on equipping the youth with the necessary skills to drive industrialization and economic transformation.

The government has prioritized TVET and apprenticeship policies as the key to ensuring that young people are not left behind in the nation’s development process. Through initiatives such as the Free TVET Policy, we are working to make vocational education accessible to all youth, regardless of their background, said Mr. Anamoo.

He lauded CEDEPA and their donor partner Adamfo Ghana for this initiative and indicated the call to expand the coverage of the Free TVET Policy to out of school youth is well placed, and will be relayed to the appropriate authorities.

A representative from the Street Invest Northern Network, Mr. Tijani Mahmoud i delivered a solidarity message on the behalf of the Network. He highlighted the longstanding partnership between Street Invest Northern Network and CEDEPA, emphasizing that both organizations share a common mission of youth empowerment and social development. CEDEPA and Street Invest Northern Network have worked together for years, and we will continue to collaborate in our shared goal of providing opportunities for young people, especially those who are out of school, he said.

The event also featured contributions from various stakeholders, including the Youth Employment Agency, represented by Mr. Iddrisu Aminu, the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), represented by Mr. Sulemana Ishawu, and the Ghana Enterprise Agency. Each representative highlighted their agency’s role in supporting youth through apprenticeship and vocational training programmes.

The forum concluded with CEDEPA Ghana presenting a communiqué to stakeholders. The communiqué outlined the key outcomes and recommendations from the forum, including a call for the government to increase investment in TVET and Apprenticeship training by expanding access to apprenticeship programmes for out-of-school youth. It also emphasized the need for greater collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector to ensure the success of TVET and apprenticeship programmes in addressing youth unemployment.

The stakeholder forum provided a platform for meaningful dialogue on the importance of apprenticeship training in empowering out-of-school youth. It also reinforced the government’s commitment to expanding access to TVET and Apprenticeship training, in order to ensure that all young people have access to the skills and knowledge that they need to succeed in today’s economy. The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work together to promote effective, efficient and sustainable delivery of TVET and apprenticeship across Ghana.

Report by:

Mr. Yussif Ismail (Project Volunteer, CEDEPA