Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Administration, has described Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as central to Ghana’s economic transformation and growth, emphasising the critical role of industry in developing a skilled workforce.
She said TVET was a key driver of the Government’s 24-hour economy agenda, which sought to make Ghana more productive, self-reliant and inclusive.
The government, the Ghana TVET Service, industry and development partners were working together to reform the sector and maximise its contribution to national development, she said.
Madam Bampo Addo made the remarks on Wednesday, October 14, during the opening of the three-day National TVET Week 2026 Policy Dialogue, organised by the Ghana TVET Service as part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of Ghana TVET Week.
The dialogue was held on the theme: “Resetting TVET: Powering Ghana’s Industrial and Economic Transformation.”
The event brought together industry leaders, heads of technical institutions, tutors, students, officials of the Ghana TVET Service, Members of Parliament, policymakers, academics, private-sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organisations.
Madam Bampoe Addo said President John Mahama had set a target of increasing TVET enrolment from 11 per cent to 20 per cent to strengthen the sector’s contribution to the 24-hour economy through skills development and technical training.
She said progress had been made towards that goal, with 70,000 learners enrolled in public TVET institutions in 2026.
She also cited a pass rate of 75 per cent in the 2025 Certificate Tool Examination and nearly 35,000 learners participating in workplace experience learning.
“Over 11,000 apprenticeship certificates have been issued, and about 60 Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects are underway. This is a season of reset in TVET in Ghana,” Madam Bampo Addo said.
The Deputy Chief of Staff also highlighted the importance of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into TVET programmes to equip learners with relevant skills for the evolving world of work.
She noted that the Government launched the Ghana National Artificial Intelligence Strategy in April 2026, with the ambition of positioning Ghana as a leading hub for AI in West Africa and across the continent by 2035.
She therefore urged TVET institutions to incorporate AI into their training programmes to enhance learners’ competencies and prepare them for emerging opportunities in the labour market.
Dr Eric Kofi Adzroe, the Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, called for TVET to be placed at the centre of Ghana’s industrial and economic transformation.
He said sustainable industrialisation, competitive manufacturing, modern agriculture and the creation of quality jobs depended on a skilled workforce equipped with relevant technical and occupational competencies.
Dr Adzroe stressed the need to strengthen collaboration between training institutions and industry to ensure that skills development aligned with the country’s economic priorities and labour market demands.
Mr Sebastian Deh, Member of Parliament of Kpando, and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ghana TVET Service, said more than 16 sector skills bodies had been activated to enable industry players to identify the skills required in their respective sectors.
He urged TVET institutions to ensure that at least 50 per cent of practical training took place in industry, enabling learners to acquire hands-on experience in real workplace settings.
Mr Deh also appealed to businesses to open their factories, garages, farms and construction sites to learners to strengthen practical training and bridge the gap between classroom instruction and industry requirements.