The Deputy Director-General of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Mr Kwame Zu, has reiterated the Commission’s commitment to providing strong policy leadership and regulatory oversight to transform Ghana’s technical and vocational education sector.

Speaking at the World Youth Skills Day Dialogue in Accra, held under the theme “Youth Empowerment through AI & Digitalisation: The Role of Technology in Hands-On Skills for the Future Workforce,” Mr Zu stressed the urgent need to prepare Ghanaian youth for a digitally-driven future.

“At CTVET, we remain firmly committed to providing policy leadership, regulatory standards, and robust enforcement systems that underpin effective TVET delivery,” he said. “In alignment with this year’s theme, we are working to ensure that our TVET ecosystem is not only future-ready but also digitally enabled to empower the Ghanaian youth with hands-on, technology-driven skills required to lead in an era defined by artificial intelligence, automation, and innovation.”

Digital skills: The new workforce imperative

Mr Zu underscored the growing demand for digital literacy, creativity, and adaptability as essential complements to traditional technical skills.
“Our young ones, as we reflect on the theme, we are reminded that the future belongs to those who are not only skilled technically but also digitally competent, creative, and adaptable,” he said.

He urged stakeholders—including government, private sector partners, and educational institutions—to increase investments in digital infrastructure and skills development initiatives, to equip the next generation for the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.

“Let us continue, therefore, to collaborate, innovate, and invest in the next generation, ensuring that Ghana’s youth are not left behind,” he concluded.

Background: World Youth Skills Day and Ghana’s TVET Agenda

World Youth Skills Day, celebrated annually on 15 July, highlights the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship. This year’s focus on AI and digitalisation reflects a global shift in workforce needs, particularly in emerging economies.

In Ghana, CTVET leads the transformation of technical and vocational education by regulating, coordinating, and promoting skills development. Under initiatives like the MyTVET campaign and the National Apprenticeship Programme, CTVET is working to reposition technical education as a viable path for young people in an increasingly digital economy.