The Member of Parliament for Kpando, Sebastian Deh, has reiterated the urgent need for sustained investment in youth skills development as Ghana joins the world to commemorate the 2025 World Youth Skills Day.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament to mark the day, Hon. Deh highlighted the significance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in shaping Ghana’s future workforce and economic transformation.
He noted that this year’s celebration, under the theme “Youth Empowerment through AI & Digitalization: The Role of Technology in Hands-On Skills for the Future Workforce,” aligns with national efforts to equip the youth with relevant skills for employment, entrepreneurship, and decent work.
The MP noted that TVET holds the potential to building a competent workforce for the economic growth of the country.
“The role of TVET in economic growth cannot be overstated, with industry-led, demand-driven, and competency-based training, we can build a workforce that is resilient, adaptive, and globally competitive”, Hon Deh stated.
He commended the Ghana TVET Service for leveraging the day to launch the National TVET Week 2025, and spotlighted the country’s remarkable progress in the sector from an enrolment of 42,000 students in 2018 to over 235,000 in the 2024 academic year.
According to the MP, these strides are backed by critical policy reforms and infrastructure investments, including; the establishment of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and the Ghana TVET Service through Act 1049 (2020) and the realignment of TVET institutions under the Ministry of Education for better regulation and standardization.
Other policy reforms he mentioned includes the development of state-of-the-art regional training centers and the upgrading of existing institutions such as those in Kpando, Ada, Krobea-Asante, and Dabokpa, as well as the creation of the National TVET Qualifications Framework and introduction of the TVET Voucher Project to increase access and promote private sector participation.
He also cited key industry partnerships, such as curriculum development, apprenticeship programs, and the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Workplace Experience Learning (WEL), as strategic steps to bridge the gap between training and the demands of the job market.
“Ghana is on a solid path, but we must not relent, …we must consolidate gains by supporting the proposed establishment of a national TVET Fund, and implement the 24-Hour Economy (24HE) policy as a catalyst for job creation and skills application.”, Hon Deh emphasized.
The Kpando lawmaker commended he Ministry of Education securing a €5 million grant from Italy to further support TVET initiatives, describing it as a “radiant signal of greater things to come.”
Hon. Deh, who also chairs the Governing Council of the Ghana TVET Service, called on all stakeholders including government, industry, civil society, and development partners to continue supporting national strategies aimed at empowering Ghana’s youth through relevant skills development.
“Together, we can unlock the full potential of Ghana’s young people and build a prosperous future for all,” he concluded.
