The Ghana TVET Service, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, today hosted a high-level national dialogue to mark World Youth Skills Day 2025 at the Accra Technical Training Institute (ATTI) Dome in Kokomlemle.

The celebration was held under the theme: “Youth Empowerment Through AI and Digitalisation – The Role of Technology in Hands-On Skills for the Future Workforce.”

The event witnessed the presence of several distinguished guests and policy leaders, including Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President as the Guest of Honour; Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education (Keynote Speaker); Dr. Eric Kofi Adzroe, Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service; and Osman Ayariga, CEO of the National Youth Authority. Also present at the event were representatives from the EU, GIZ, UNESCO, UNICEF, the British Council, T-TEL, other development partners, academia, and private sector institutions driving towards an engaging and forward-looking national conversation on hands-on skills.

In a symbolic and strategic move, the day also witnessed the official launch of the National TVET Week, a flagship initiative designed to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical lever for Ghana’s industrialisation and youth empowerment agenda.

Delivering the keynote address, Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education, underscored the urgent need to reframe national perceptions of TVET and to recognise it as a vehicle for transformation.

“TVET is not a second option. It is a first-class solution to unemployment, underemployment, and the future of decent work,” he declared.

“It is also our policy and agenda, to reform the TVET system to integrate emerging digital skill sets. With Artificial Intelligence taking over and changing learning in classrooms and how business is being done, it is imperative to incorporate same into our developmental agenda for TVET.”

He further announced plans to scale the National Apprenticeship Programme, providing free technical training, certification, and start-up support for young artisans across various trades. The programme, he noted, will also feature a Business Growth Apprenticeship module, designed to help graduates transition from trainees to employers.

The Director-General of Ghana TVET Service, Dr. Eric Kofi Adzroe, in his remarks, highlighted the significance of the dual celebration, describing the launch of National TVET Week on World Youth Skills Day as both timely and symbolic.

“The National TVET Week celebration, ladies and gentlemen, is positioned to enhance the image and perception surrounding technical education, strengthen national awareness and trust in TVET, promote Competency-Based Training (CBT) nationwide, deepen industry-academia-learner collaboration, encourage female enrolment and gender mainstreaming and position TVET for international partnerships and funding.”

He emphasised the power of partnerships and the importance of rebranding TVET beyond outdated stereotypes.

“In the face of this transformation, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) must also evolve. It is no longer sufficient for TVET systems to merely respond to changes in the labour market; rather, they must become proactive, forward-looking engines of innovation. We must build agile TVET frameworks that can anticipate emerging trends and equip learners with the competencies needed for the jobs of tomorrow.” he said.

The dialogue explored critical issues shaping the national and global skills landscape, including:

• Embedding artificial intelligence and digitalisation in curriculum and training delivery,
• Advancing technical and digital competencies for youth employability,
• Promoting inclusive participation and gender equity in TVET,
• Strengthening public-private linkages and work-based learning systems,
• And fostering innovation and youth-led entrepreneurship.

Throughout the event, students and trainees exhibited their talents in areas such as robotics, precision engineering, agritech, ICT, and creative design. Industry stakeholders and academia participated in practical dialogue sessions on how best to embed digital and green competencies into the national training curriculum.

In her speech, the Guest of Honor, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo highlighted the government’s commitment towards the speedy development of future-ready workforce. Through a range of interventions, she mentioned the government is working to make digital skills and technical education accessible to all.

She also said “We have secured a €5 million grant from the Italian government to strengthen TVET in Ghana. This funding is crucial for equipping more young people with employable skills and promoting entrepreneurship across the country. The National Apprenticeship Programme has also begun, with 10,000 apprentices set to benefit this year. From 2026, the programme will scale up to support 100,000 young people annually. Backed by a GHS 300 million allocation in the 2025 budget, the programme covers both training and monthly stipends, while targeting practical, market relevant skills.”

She ended by reaffirming the government’s shared commitment to youth development and skills transformation. She said,” let us shape a Ghana where every young person can dream, build, and thrive, not despite the future, but because they are equipped to own it.”

The celebration formed part of the broader collaboration objectives with development partners like the Pact for Skills: Support to the Transformation of the TVET System in Ghana  project co-financed by the German Development Cooperation (BMZ) and the European Union, and implemented by GIZ, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Commission for TVET, and the Ghana TVET Service.

In a powerful close, the Minister for Education reiterated government’s unwavering focus on youth development and national competitiveness through TVET:“This is the age of the skilled and the self-reliant. Our young people are not looking for sympathy they are looking for tools, platforms, and recognition. And through this renewed focus on skills, we will give them all three. I also used the opportunity to highlight Ghana’s progress in TVET reforms and the plans we have advanced here to modernize our training facilities, increase access to vocational education, and align skills development with industry demands. These, ladies and gentlemen, are being done with the blessing of His Excellency, President Mahama to actualize his vision of restoring the country on the right path.”

The event concluded with a strong call for support from corporate organisations, development partners, and donor agencies towards National TVET Week 2025, which promises to be a nationwide celebration of skills, creativity, and opportunity.