Kumasi Technical University has partnered with German Development Partners to train artisans in the construction sector.

The project implemented by the Centre for Technology Transfer and Skills Development (CTSD) of the University will provide skills upgrade to artisans in the sector.

The institution also believes the partnership will provide the youth with job opportunities.

About 200 artisans in the Ashanti Region will benefit from the first phase of the ‘professionalization’ of artisans project.

The Vice-Chancellor of Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) Prof. Osei-Wusu Achaw laments the lack of participation of ladies in the training.

He is urging young women in the construction sector to take advantage of the project to upgrade their skills.

"The university was chosen to implement the project because of our experience in skills acquisition. The Germans were looking for an institution to deliver this kind of training to get the best result. They're many ladies in the area of fashion, so ladies in the construction sector should get involved in this training,” he said.

The investment by the German Development Partners is targeted at job creation in the country.

Head of Centre for Technology Transfer and Skills Development (CTSD), KsTU, Rev Dr Timothy Crentsil believes the training will help participants upgrade their skills in construction work.

"The artisans are working alright but they're basic things they don't know how to do. Like using the right tools for the right work and making sure that measuring quantities of the various areas in the construction field.

According to him, "new things come up every day, so artisans need to upgrade their skills and competence to serve clients."

"The German partners have come up with an organization they call invest for jobs and the investment is directed towards job creation. And they're targeting 40% women and 60 % men in the construction sector with 50% being youth,” he emphasized.

Dr Crentsil says the institution will continue to provide vocational and technical training to the youth. 

"We hope to give them certificates at the end of the project as an institution. The project is liaising with the Ghana Institute of Engineering to provide some licensing to this artisan. As an institution it's our mandate to provide skills and career support to the general public," he noted

Through the project, Vodafone Ghana will train participants in digital skills to reach prospective clients.

Certificates will be awarded to participants at the end of the training.

Project Description

The Training and Job Creation is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, which operates under the brand ‘Invest for Jobs’ is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Vodafone Ghana Limited, Robert Bosch Ghana and the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) to implement the Professionalization of Artisans (ProfArts) project, which seeks to “professionalize” the skills of existing artisans within the (informal) construction sector and its value chain.

Other key partners of the ProfArts project are the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) as well as uvex safety Germany.

ProfArts aims to improve the employment situation of local artisans in the construction sector and the associated value chain, through technical top-up training, occupational health and safety training, soft and business skills training, retooling with modern equipment, financial literacy and easier access to loans, and licensing under the “Engineering Craftsmen Register” of the Ghana Institution of Engineering.

Through digital training and a mobile application, the target group will gain access to a larger customer network.

This will enable participants to offer services more efficiently under fairer conditions.