Ghana’s widening skills gap is responsible for high graduate unemployment which threatens the country’s socio-economic development, Professor Mike Agbesi Acheampong has said.
The acting Vice-Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University, wants the government take urgent steps to address the challenge.
“The high rate of graduate unemployment in the country is not necessarily due to lack of jobs but rather the lack of people with the relevant skills needed for the available jobs,” he pointed out.
He was speaking at the launch of the zonal and national skills competition in Kumasi.
According to a World Bank report, 48 percent of Ghana’s youth of between 15 and 24 years, are jobless.
The population in the age bracket will certainly be higher in the next decade amid concerns about the country’s capacity to create jobs.
Government is therefore embarking on education sector reforms with emphasis on technical and vocational training (TVET).
Technical universities as well as second-cycle Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions, will serve as vehicles for youth skills development.
Prof Acheampong calls for overhaul of education and training courses to meet labour market needs.
“Young people need skills to build secured livelihoods for themselves. Enterprises will become more competitive as more skilled staff become available. This in turn creates a favourable framework for sustainable economic growth,” he emphasized.
Professor Mike Agbesi Acheampong
Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, entreated the youth to be abreast of and take advantage of government policies and programmes.
He hinted of collaboration with trade unions for establishing database of trained apprentices and artisans for formation of Apprentice Recruitment Agency.
Information portal and task force will also be set up to assist young artisans to make their products and services visible locally and internationally.
The World Skills Competition is an international event for people of 25 years and below to compete in various artisanal trades and skill categories.
Southern Zone comprises Greater Accra, Volta, Central and Easter Regions while Ashanti, Bono Ahafo and the three Northern Regions make up the Northern Zone.
Two hundred contestants will compete in eleven skills areas, from welding, construction and metal works to beauty therapy and hairdressing.
The competitions will run concurrently from 18th to 21st September 2018 in Accra and Kumasi
Three winners from Kumasi are expected to emerge from each skill area to set a date with their Southern Zone counterparts in the national crown in November.
Northern Zone Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Rev Dr. Timothy Crentsil, expects the programme to inspire world class skills excellence for the youth.
German International Development Co-operation (GIZ), European Union, Council for Technical Education and Training and Kumasi Technical University are collaborating.
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