As Ghana’s automobile industry expands to meet local demand and regional trade prospects under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), technical and vocational training institutions are emerging as crucial players in building a skilled workforce to sustain and grow the auto sector.
At the heart of this transformation is the Opportunity Industrialization Technical Institute (OITI) in Accra, where students are learning to diagnose, repair, and even design vehicles from the ground up.
With a curriculum focused on 70% hands-on practice and 30% theory, OITI is not only producing competent mechanics but also nurturing innovative minds capable of contributing to Ghana’s ambition of becoming a vehicle assembly hub.
Mr. Mawuli Sogbey, Principal of OITI, speaking to The High Street Journal said, students are equipped to work with modern diagnostic tools, understand vehicle electronics, and even create prototypes.
He said this is more than fixing cars, it’s about grooming entrepreneurs and technicians who will shape the future of mobility in Ghana.
However, MTN Ghana CEO Mr. Stephen Blewett interacted with students in the automobile sector and urged them to prioritize hand-skills crafts for the near future.
He pledged support for their training, adding that “these are the kinds of skills that are in high demand globally.”
“We’re not just talking about jobs but we’re talking about lifelong careers in a sector that needs both hands-on expertise and digital visibility.”
Mr. Blewett emphasized the importance of blending technical skills with digital literacy.“Whether you’re a mechanic or a designer, if you don’t know how to showcase your services online, take bookings, or get reviews, you’re invisible. That’s where MTN wants to help, by providing digital tools and platforms to help these young professionals market themselves.”
The Shift from Theory to Real-World Application
OITI’s approach mirrors a growing national effort to revamp technical and vocational education. Supported by the government’s Free SHS TVET programme and the Ghana TVET Service, institutions like OITI are integrating industry partnerships, real-world internships, and entrepreneurial modules.
“TVET graduates today can either start their own business or proceed to higher education with strong technical foundations,” said Angela Asamoah, an auto engineering instructor at OITI. “It’s a far cry from the past when technical education was seen as a last resort.”
Real-World Impact
In collaboration with MTN Ghana, the fashion design department is set to produce 283 school uniforms for underserved communities, a project that Mr. Blewett said was “a perfect example of skills being put to work for social good.”
In the automotive department, students have designed a model gearbox and a hybrid motorbike prototype as part of their final year projects.
“We built this motorbike to show how fuel and electric systems can coexist,” explained Kwame Agyeman, a final-year student. “With the right support, we can move from models to real production.”
A Growing Ecosystem
Nonetheless, Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry estimates that the local automotive market could create up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030.
Companies like VW, Kantanka, and Toyota have already set up assembly plants in Ghana, and the Automotive Development Policy is pushing for more local content and skills development.
“If we don’t train the youth now, these plants will need to import talent from abroad, “TVET is how we localize expertise and keep value here.”‘Mr, Blewett said.
