The government has been commended for its commitment to strengthening the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, as the Kwadaso Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eric Asibey, cut sod for major infrastructure projects at the Business Secretarial and Technical Institute (BSTI) at Asuoyeboah in the Ashanti Region.

Principal of BSTI, Abena Mansah Foriwaah, praised the government’s sustained investment in TVET when the ceremony was held at the school.

The two projects include the construction of a three-storey classroom block with a two-bedroom principal’s apartment and a six-unit staff flat, awarded to Cape Tree Company Limited, as well as a multipurpose TVET centre, awarded to SG Two-Trust Company Limited.

The projects are expected to be completed within 24 months and 30 months, respectively, providing much-needed facilities for the institute.

Ms Foriwaah acknowledged the previous government’s efforts in initiating investments in technical and vocational institutions and welcomed the current administration’s commitment to sustaining and expanding those investments to boost the sector’s growth.

She noted that BSTI has been grappling with inadequate infrastructure and learning resources and expressed optimism that the new projects would significantly ease the situation.

“We were facing a lot of challenges, including a lack of teachers’ accommodation, inadequate classrooms and other infrastructure. Timely completion of this project will provide excellent teaching and learning facilities, as well as monitoring and supervision, to maintain the school’s vision of being the best in the training of engineers, secretaries and other professional personnel,” she said.

Ms Foriwaah added that the government has assured management that funds for the completion of the projects will be disbursed promptly, and expressed hope that the contractors would adhere to the timelines.

In an interview, Mr Asibey revealed that the projects are being funded by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) under the New Targeted and Emergency Projects (NTEmP) initiative. He said the projects form part of efforts to improve educational infrastructure and enhance the learning environment in the municipality.

He expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for driving development across the country and underscored the importance of quality education in shaping Ghana’s future generations.

The MCE urged the contractors to adhere strictly to project specifications and timelines, noting that funding has already been secured.

“President Mahama is committed to completing all the projects initiated by the previous government, and, for that matter, he cannot abandon his own projects. So, the consultant needs to keep an eye on the contractors and ensure that top-notch materials are being used and that deadlines are met,” he said.

Mr Asibey also stressed the need to engage local skilled labour to create employment opportunities for young people in the municipality.

“We want to see the involvement of our local people — masons, carpenters and other artisans — in this project, and we appeal to the contractor to prioritise the use of local resources,” he added.

Meanwhile, Engineer Richard Addo-Gyamfi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service (GTVET), raised concerns about encroachment on the school’s land due to the absence of infrastructure and a boundary wall.

He made an urgent appeal to the relevant authorities and stakeholders to intervene and prevent further encroachments to safeguard the future of the institute.