They were selected from various informal trade associations to undergo the six month-long training offered by Dabokpa Technical Institute (DABOTECH) in Tamale.

The GTVP seeks to train and equip master craftsmen, workers and their apprentices in the informal sector with modern technology and skills to help improve their trade areas.

The GTVP, which began in June, 2018 is a project under Ghanaian-German Financial Cooperation funded by the KfW German Development Bank and implemented by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

Madam Mahama Mariama, Principal of DABOTECH gave details of the beneficiaries when officials of KfW German Development Bank visited DABOTECH on Wednesday to assess the implementation of the GTVP.

The German Officials together with officials of COTVET inspected some young people undergoing training in their trade areas such as building and construction, welding and fabrication, automotive repairs and fashion at DABOTECH.

Madam Mahama said additional 160 trainees including 20 master craft persons and 140 apprentices were currently undergoing training in various fields at DABOTECH as part of the project to improve their operations.

She said DABOTECH has been working to deliver quality TVET through the project by collaborating with some trade associations in the informal sector to help provide training through the informal Competence Based Training (CBT) system for master craftsmen and apprentices in the Northern Region.

Dr Elke Luedemann, Project Manager at the KfW Head Office, Frankfurt, responsible for Education, Health and Social Protection for West Africa, said it was the fourth time then project review mission the KfW was undertaking in the country and also the first time in the Northern Region.

After interactions with trainees, facilitators and the Principal of DABOTECH, Dr Luedemann, expressed satisfaction with the efforts DABOTECH was making urging it to put up more efforts for success.

She said experiences and suggestions of teachers and students would be considered to help improve the GTVP to meet students' needs so as to help a large number of young people from the informal sector.

She said the project was in its second phase and so far an amount of €20 million has been invested in it with co-financing of €2 million by the Ghanaian government and every student learner also contributed some amount for the training as well.

Mr Collins Armah, Team Leader for GTVP, said he was very impressed with the implementation of the project adding that apart from the technical training for students, the curriculum of the project also sought to improve the technological level of students by incorporating ICT training.

Mr Seth Oku Asamoah, COTVET's Coordinator in-charge of Assessment and Certification, expressed joy with the implementation of the project saying students in vocational and technical institutions were not less intelligent and called on parents to encourage their children to develop interest in TVET.