A new landmark study by UNICEF Ghana and the Ghana TVET Service has exposed "critical gaps" between the skills taught in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and the competencies actually required by the country's labour market.

The research, conducted in the Ashanti Region between 2024 and 2025, highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to equip Ghana’s youth with market-ready skills and combat the national unemployment rate, which stands at 21.7% for young people.

Key Findings Reveal Implementation Failures

The study's findings, presented on August 28 in Kumasi to government officials and industry leaders, underscored several major barriers to effective skills training:

• Low Competency-Based Training (CBT) Adoption: Only 24% of TVET institutions surveyed in the Ashanti Region currently deliver the necessary Competency-Based Training (CBT) exclusively. Barriers cited include high implementation costs, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified facilitators.
• Neglect of Key Sectors: Only one out of 57 institutions surveyed offered agriculture-related training, despite agriculture being a major employer in the region, a gap described as "striking" by the researchers.
• Digital Skills Deficit: UNICEF Country Representative, Mr. Osama Makkawi, stressed the severity of the technology gap, stating: "In today’s economy, ICT skills are not optional, they are essential. This study shows why embedding digital literacy across all training pathways is both urgent and non-negotiable."

Urgent Call for Policy Reform

Speaking at the presentation, Mr. Abdul Fatah M. Mahama, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, emphasised the report's necessity.

"With youth unemployment at 21.7% and over 380,000 new job seekers entering the market each year, evidence like this is indispensable for reforming curricula, targeting investments, and expanding opportunities," he noted.

Dr. Tillmann Günther, UNICEF’s Education Specialist, described the findings as a "powerful evidence base for decision-makers to future-proof Ghana’s TVET sector."

The Ministry of Labour, represented by Chief Director Mr. Adakurugu Hamidu, affirmed the findings would be "pivotal for shaping national policy" to close the labour market gaps.

The Ghana TVET Service announced plans to extend similar research to the Northern and Western Regions with UNICEF's continued support, demonstrating a commitment to targeted, region-specific interventions.

Sebastian Deh, Chair of the Ghana TVET Service Governing Council, called on policymakers and private sector leaders to collaborate with the Service to address the deficiencies.

Baworo Hemaa, speaking on behalf of the Ashanti Traditional Council, captured the community sentiment, stating, “TVET is not just about equipping hands; it is about shaping lives and transforming communities.”

The organisations now urge all stakeholders to work together to bridge the skills gap to ensure every Ghanaian learner is equipped to drive innovation and sustainable development.