Sophia Tijani, President of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), has called for deliberate investment in female technicians to drive Ghana’s development.

She said empowering women with technical skills was critical to Ghana’s industrial growth and national development.

Speaking at the commemoration of the 2026 International Women’s Day organised by the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service (GTVET Service) on Friday, Mrs Tijani urged young women to pursue technical careers with confidence and determination.

She said countries admired for their industrial progress were built largely through skilled labour and Ghana must follow the same path.

“Countries like Germany and China that we admire were built by skilled labour. We are also going to build Ghana, and we will build it with both men and women,” she said.

Mrs Tijani, who is also a distinguished electrical engineer, expressed concern over the low number of women entering technical professions, particularly at the technician and craft levels, despite the increasing demand for skilled workers in industry.

According to data she cited from the Engineering Council of Ghana, only 39 engineering technicians were registered last year and none were female.

Similarly, out of 69 engineering craftsmen registered, only 12 were women.

She added that the GhIE currently had 180 registered technicians, with just two women, describing the situation as worrying but also an opportunity for young women to fill the gap.

“These numbers are not because women lack the ability. It is simply because most girls have not been encouraged to enter these spaces,” she said.

Mrs Tijani encouraged female trainees to master their trade and strive for excellence, noting that skilled technical jobs were both lucrative and in high demand.

“Focus on mastering your trade. Become excellent at what you do, and once you are excellent, the world will always make room for you,” she advised.

The event, held on the theme “Give to Gain – Empowering the Next Generation of Female Technicians,” also featured the launch of a national mentorship initiative aimed at increasing female participation in technical and vocational education.

Mrs Tijani emphasised that mentorship plays a crucial role in helping young women realise their potential and navigate career opportunities.

Using an electrical engineering analogy, she said mentorship acts as a transmission line that connects knowledge and opportunities from one generation to the next.

“Knowledge, experience and opportunity are like electricity. But unless we intentionally connect young women to mentors and opportunities, the power will never reach them,” she explained.

Dr Eric Kofi Adzroe, Director-General of the GTVET Service, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women within the technical and vocational education system.

He said empowering women through technical and vocational education was one of the most effective ways to drive inclusive economic growth.

“When we empower girls with skills, we do far more than transform individual lives. We strengthen industries, support families and build a stronger nation,” he said.

Dr Adzroe noted that the GTVET Service had established a Gender Unit at its headquarters and across regional and institutional levels to ensure gender-responsive policies and programmes were integrated into the TVET system.

He also highlighted partnerships with organisations such as the World University Service of Canada, UNICEF, CAMFED and GIZ to increase female enrolment in traditionally male-dominated technical trades.

Madam Affie Agbenyo, Deputy Director-General of GTVET Service, speaking about the national mentorship programme, said it aimed to increase female participation and retention in technical training institutions.

She explained that the programme would provide structured mentorship, workplace experience learning, career guidance, and master classes led by experienced engineers and technicians.

The initiative, she said, would also create partnerships between technical institutions, industry players and professional associations to support young women as they transition into the workforce.

“If we do not encourage and train young women, we will not find them as technicians or engineers in these spaces,” she said.

Madam Clara-Valentine Tigenoah, Head of Programmes at CAMFED Ghana, also emphasised the importance of investing in girls’ education and skills development to transform communities and reduce poverty.

She said providing girls with education, mentorship and opportunities to acquire technical skills would produce innovators, entrepreneurs and future leaders.

“When we give girls access to education, we gain future women leaders. When we give them technical skills, we gain innovators who contribute to national development,” she said.

The event brought together industry leaders, development partners, educators and students to celebrate women’s achievements while advocating greater female participation in technical and vocational careers in Ghana.