The Government is taking concrete steps to establish a dedicated technical, vocational, education and training (TVET) fund to ensure sustainable financing for the sector, the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has said. 

The proposed fund is to provide reliable and structured financing mechanism to support infrastructure development, modern equipment acquisition, instructor training and innovation across TVET institutions.

Speaking on behalf of the sector Minister at the 2026 Ghana TVET Excellence Awards, the Deputy Minister said, “The proposed TVET fund would also expand access and equity for disadvantaged brilliant students, strengthen apprenticeship programmes and provide targeted support to key sectors of the economy”.

“It represents a bold commitment to ensuring that no young Ghanian is left behind in acquiring employable skills,” he added.

Dr Apaak also disclosed that a comprehensive national TVET policy was currently awaiting Cabinet approval.

The policy, he said, was expected to provide a forward-looking framework that would address key areas such as governance, quality assurance, industry engagement, financing and inclusivity.

He said the policy would integrate emerging priorities such as digital skills, green transitions and innovation to ensure that Ghana's workforce remained relevant, competitive and future-ready.

The deputy minister said the government was institutionalising employer-led training through sector skills bodies to ensure that programmes reflected real industry needs.

He also highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and the Ghana Skills Development Fund, indicating that they were already delivering measurable results in boosting employability and supporting enterprise growth.

Awards

Up to 16 individuals and six institutions emerged as winners of this year’s Ghana TVET Excellence Awards.

The awards, organised by the Commission for TVET (CTVET), aimed to honour institutions, students, instructors, industry facilitators and mastercraft persons who demonstrate exceptional commitment to skills development and technical excellence.

It seeks to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements within the country’s TVET ecosystem.

It was held on the theme: “Celebrating outstanding skills,innovation and industry partnerships”.

The award recipients included Carolyn Dugbatey who was adjudged the Best Industry Facilitator, Alhassan Tefuru won the Best School Facilitator and Robert Fynn took the Best TVET Student.

The Best Innovative Student went to Zakaria Joshua Wumpini, while the Best Mastercraft Person went to Priscilla Agordoh, with the Best Female Student going to Ann Afua Aferibea Appiah.

The Best Pre-tertiary School went to Fr Dogli Memorial Technical Institute, while Accra Technical University won the Best Tertiary School.

The first edition was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), and implemented by the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, in partnership with the CTVET.

The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, educators and trainees, all united by a shared commitment to building a skilled workforce capable of supporting Ghana’s industrial transformation.

Adhere

The Director-General of the CTVET, Zakaria Suleman, called for stronger industry partnerships, strict adherence to accreditation standards and sustained investment in skills training.

Mr Suleman urged all training providers to align with the regulatory framework of the CTVET to safeguard the integrity and relevance of skills development in the country.

“The sustainability of the TVET system depends on strong industry partnerships, sustained investment in training institutions and deliberate support for instructors and learners,” he said.

AI era

A delegate of the German Industry and Commerce in Ghana, Dr Michael Blank, urged young people to rethink traditional career choices in the face of rapid technological change, saying that artificial intelligence (AI) was reshaping the global job market while creating new opportunities for skilled trades.

Dr Blank pointed to the accelerating impact of the digital revolution, particularly advances in AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and Claude, saying they were rapidly transforming how work was done.

He cautioned that many routine and repetitive jobs could soon be automated, fundamentally altering the employment landscape.

Dr Blank encouraged young people to remain adaptable and commit to lifelong learning to stay relevant.

He stressed that skilled trades would remain in high demand despite advances in AI.