The newly inaugurated Council of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service has been tasked with working to produce entrepreneurs who can create their own jobs and not depend on the overcrowded public sector.
The Council was charged to provide opportunities and the leverage for young people to be on their own, to realise their potential, or to become entrepreneurs who would not depend on others for their survival.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, said this when he inaugurated a 10-member Council of the Service in Accra.
The Council members took the oath of office and oath of secrecy administered by the Minister.
“The future of work and Ghana’s effort to improve employability rest on your shoulders.
“We have to collectively work to reposition technical and vocational education, not as an alternative route but a priority for national development.
“There are persons who naturally are born academically brilliant, and there are those with specialised hand skills,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu assured the Council of the Ministry’s support as part of the anniversary celebration to brand technical and vocational education in the country.
“I am convinced that the best way to address the growing unemployment in our country, particularly youth unemployment, will be to strengthen and invest more in technical and vocational education.”
He said President Mahama, in his keynote address at the Ghana European Union Summit, announced that the Italian government was supporting technical and vocational education in Ghana with five million euros.
He acknowledged the challenges in the sector and pledged to equip TVET institutions with the state-of-the-art equipment to function effectively.
The Minister said he was working to ensure that 2.5 per cent of total revenue of the country was dedicated to that TVET fund to support the sector.
Mr Sebastian Fred Deh, Chairman of the Council, thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country.
He said the appointment demonstrated government commitment to developing the skills of the country’s workforce to meet the demands of the economy.
“We are ready to work to ensure that our mandate is achieved. We will engage stakeholders to leverage opportunities for the country’s skills development,”  he said.
The Council members are Madam Rejoice Emefa Dankwa, Representative of the Ministry of Education; Mrs Gloria Bortele Noi, Representative of the Ministry responsible for Employment and Labour Relations; and Mr Divine Yao Ayidzoe, Representative of the Ministry responsible for Local Government and Rural Development.
Others are Mrs Caroline Chapman Agyemang, Representative of the Ministry responsible for Trade and Industry; Mr Zakaria Sulemana, Representative of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training; and Mr Arko Dometey, Representative of the Association of Heads of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions.
The rest are Ms Yvonne Asare-Yeboa, Representative of the Ghana Employers Association; Mr Dennis Kwadwo Danquah, Representative of the Association of Ghana Industries; and Mr Imran Shams Kwakye, Representative of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce.