The British Council, in collaboration with Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET), Wednesday, March 24, 2021, held a workshop on the implementation of Ghana’s first National Apprenticeship Policy.

The over five hours workshop, which took place at the British Council office in Accra, saw key people analyse the draft policy ahead of its implementation by the government.

The policy will coordinate Ghana’s apprenticeship sector, bringing together several separate schemes under one common standard. This will make it easier for apprentices to access skills training in areas ranging from carpentry to dressmaking.

Apprentices will have more opportunities to gain certifications to show evidence of their skills too.

Ag. Director-General of COTVET, Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah, in his keynote address, said that the apprenticeship policy, which has enormous benefits, should have been in place long ago, however, it is better late than never.

According to Dr Asamoah, the government aims to produce world-class apprentices who can attract the attention of employers from every part of the world.

He added that "Beyond the benefits the country is expected to derive from this national apprenticeship policy, businesses will also benefit immensely if they are guided by the policy. If businesses adopt apprenticeship training as one way of developing their workforce, it can help to develop highly skilled employees.

"Apprenticeship programs also reduce turnover rates, increase productivity and lower the cost of recruitment. The apprenticeship will also ensure that businesses have customized training that meets industry standards, tailored to the specific needs of businesses."

Meanwhile, Country Director of British Council, Alan Rutt hailed Ghana for the policy, having witnessed the successful running of something similar in his country.