The Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service has released findings of a skills supply and demand assessment in the Ashanti Region, aimed at aligning training with labour market needs and tackling youth unemployment.

The study, funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), examined current and future labour market demands, assessed the effectiveness of TVET supply, and proposed strategies to make training more relevant to industry requirements. It aims to ensure that TVET curricula equip the youth with employable skills that match employer expectations.

As part of its 2023–2027 Country Programme, UNICEF is supporting reforms in the TVET sector, including institutional restructuring, expansion of Competency-Based Training (CBT), promotion of work-based learning models, and stronger industry linkages.

Despite these interventions, challenges remain, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited instructor capacity, curriculum misalignment, negative societal perceptions, and low private sector engagement.

At a stakeholder forum in Kumasi, Mr. Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Country Representative, said the Ashanti Region, with its large youthful population, has enormous potential to drive economic growth if given the right skills and opportunities. He noted a mismatch between TVET training and industry needs, citing agriculture, ICT, and technical trades as underserved sectors despite their importance to Ghana’s economy.

Mr. Abdul Fatah Mahama, Deputy Director-General in charge of Management Services at the Ghana TVET Service, said the research provides data-driven insights to guide curriculum reviews, resource allocation, and policy formulation. He cautioned that without evidence-based findings, challenges in the sector risk being addressed through anecdotal assumptions rather than facts.

He commended UNICEF for its continuous support and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to equipping Ghanaian youth with skills that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.