The acting Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi and Executive Secretary for INFORUM Gh, Deborah Freeman, signed the agreement for their respective institutions.

Under the agreement, ATU would mount tailored programmes aimed at certifying individuals employed in the informal sector.

The courses are aimed at enhancing their skills and broadening their knowledge base.

Age-old problem

In his welcome address, Prof. Acakpovi disclosed that the pact between ATU and INFORUM Gh offered a solution to an age-old problem that ate away at the nation’s economic development.

“The informal economy consists of activities that have market value but are not formally registered.

The informal worker lacks certification and recognition but contributes to the economy considerably,” he explained.

He added that the competency-based training ATU offered would go a long way to hone their skills and provide them with the needed certification and a new perspective on informal work.

Prof. Acakpovi said: “The goal of technical education is to empower people to be more creative in problem-solving, and tightening knots with the informal sector brings ATU closer to this goal”. 

Contribution to economy

For her part, Mrs Freeman, admitted how difficult it was to mobilise such a heterogeneous group of people, and commended members of INFORUM Gh for their unity and resolve to amplify their contribution to the nation’s economy.

In a statement, the National Project Coordinator for the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Frank Adetor, commended ATU’s lecturers for agreeing to utilise local languages when training members of INFORUM Gh.

The Director of Research, Innovation, Publication and Technology Transfer of ATU, Professor Nana Yaw Asabere, added that the training would not only be limited to familiarising trainees with the theories behind the work they already practice and therefore, implored them to take advantage of the opportunity and make good use of it.