Stakeholders are urging government and development partners to strengthen support systems for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical pathway to improving school-to-work transition and reducing youth unemployment in Ghana.
The call was made during a webinar on the theme “Youth Employment: Unlocking Ghana’s Potential,” where participants stressed the need to deepen skills development, strengthen industry alignment, and address persistent skills mismatches in the labour market.
The event was organised by the World Bank Ghana in collaboration with the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER).
Madam Linda Yaa Ampah, Entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Cadling Fashions and KAD Manufacturing Limited, underscored the importance of a comprehensive TVET framework that not only equips young people with skills but also supports them in transitioning into sustainable employment.
According to her, such a framework must prioritise resource mobilisation and provide graduates with opportunities to translate their skills into viable businesses and jobs.
“The goal is to establish a system that not only trains but sustains,” she said.
Madam Ampah advocated the creation of dedicated funding mechanisms within the TVET ecosystem to serve as start-up capital for graduates, arguing that this would help boost industrial productivity and reduce dependence on formal job placements.
She further emphasised the need for TVET to evolve beyond traditional classroom-based approaches by adopting inclusive policies that expand access and relevance of vocational education across different sectors.
Madam Monica Lambon-Quayefio, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Ghana, noted that unlocking the full potential of TVET required a deliberate, well-resourced, and inclusive ecosystem capable of preparing young people for the demands of the modern economy.
She called for the development of a functional Labour Market Information System (LMIS), supported by strong private sector partnerships, effective job-matching services, and reliable data to guide policy decisions and resource allocation.
Madam Lambon-Quayefio explained that school-to-work transition improves significantly when young people receive structured support before, during, and after leaving school through systems that link education institutions, employers, and support services.
She encouraged students to actively pursue internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training opportunities to gain practical experience and better adapt to workplace environments.
She also urged educational institutions to provide pre-employment support, including mentorship in curriculum vitae preparation, job search strategies, interview techniques, and the development of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and reliability.
Addressing gender disparities, Madam Lambon-Quayefio called for targeted interventions to remove barriers that disproportionately affect young women.
These include safety concerns, mobility challenges, and entrenched social norms, which often contribute to higher dropout rates and limit access to employment opportunities.
Participants at the webinar reiterated the transformative potential of TVET in addressing youth unemployment and driving economic growth.
They called for a coordinated national framework that integrates capacity building, expanded apprenticeship programmes, and access to start-up financing.
They stressed that a well-structured and adequately funded TVET system could play a pivotal role in equipping Ghana’s youth with employable skills while supporting broader economic transformation.
