The Deputy Minister of Education responsible for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, has embarked on a tour of three technical universities in the Western, Central, and Ashanti Regions, lauding their efforts in contributing to Ghana's industrialisation agenda.

The Deputy Minister visited Takoradi Technical University (TTU) on Tuesday, Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) on Wednesday, and Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) on Friday as part of his familiarisation tour.

At Takoradi Technical University, Prof. Nyarko commended the institution for its leading role in technical education, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

During his visit, he was welcomed by the University's Executive Committee members and toured state-of-the-art facilities, including the Oil and Gas Department and the Jubilee Technical Training Center.

Prof. Nyarko highlighted the essential role technical universities play in equipping students with practical skills for the country's industrial growth, particularly about the government's ‘One District, One Factory’ initiative.

He noted, “The more students are exposed to these facilities, the more they acquire the skills needed to help this country advance.”

The Deputy Minister also praised TTU for its contributions to Ghana's local content drive in the oil and gas industry, adding that the university has successfully trained Ghanaians for roles once dominated by expatriates.

“If they are adequately resourced, we can achieve the local content needed for our country's development aspirations,” he stressed.

Prof. Nyarko promised to advocate for more infrastructure and teaching staff for the university, acknowledging the challenges it faces.

“The staff-to-student ratio is about 1:47, which is quite high. I will discuss this with my minister to ensure it is addressed—not only for TTU but also for the other technical universities,” he assured.

At Cape Coast Technical University, the Deputy Minister praised the institution for its tremendous progress under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kwaku Adutwum Ayim Boakye.

Prof. Nyarko lauded the government’s significant investments in TVET and STEM education, citing the construction of ultra-modern laboratories and workshops that give students hands-on experience in their fields.

During his engagement with the university’s management, staff, and students, Prof. Nyarko was briefed on CCTU’s remarkable achievements, particularly the growth in student enrollment, research advancements, and engineering programs.

The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the institution’s niche area, Renewable Energy Technology, and its plans to commercialise a greenhouse farm to address food security issues.

The Deputy Minister reiterated the government's commitment to supporting CCTU’s niche programme and urged the management to explore collaborations with stakeholders to secure additional resources.

Prof. Nyarko also expressed satisfaction with the institution’s efforts in bridging the gap between theoretical and practical education, stressing that STEM and TVET education are critical to Ghana's industrial future.

At Kumasi Technical University, Prof. Nyarko engaged the management on the institution's challenges and pledged his support for addressing them.

He reiterated the government's goal of promoting innovation and ensuring that technical education has a meaningful impact on society.

"At the end of the day, we want to promote innovation and make sure that what we do here has a meaningful impact on societal progress," he noted.

During his tours, Prof. Nyarko interacted with students across all three universities and inspected various laboratories, workshops, and ongoing construction projects.

He praised the leadership of the universities for their efforts in enhancing technical education and assured them of the government's continued support.

The Deputy Minister's tour forms part of the government's broader strategy to transform Ghana’s educational landscape, with a particular focus on TVET institutions as key drivers of the country's industrialization and economic empowerment agenda.