Ghana must urgently shift its national mindset from chasing degrees to mastering skills, says Abdul Fatah Maigah Mahama, Deputy Director-General (Management Services) at the Ghana TVET Service.
He believes the country is at a defining crossroads where its progress will depend not on academic credentials, but on the competencies of artisans, innovators, and entrepreneurs shaping industries on the ground.
“The true strength of a nation lies not in its skylines, but in the skills of its people,” he said. “The evolution of our TVET system is not just an education reform, it’s an economic revolution in motion.”
Drawing lessons from industrial powerhouses such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, the Deputy Director said Ghana must embrace a future built on technical expertise and innovation. “Their success proves that a skilled population is a self-reliant one,” he emphasized.
He pointed to the inauguration of the Dr. John Kofi Turkson Memorial Skills Development Centre in Cape Coast as a symbol of Ghana’s awakening to this new reality.
The Centre, accredited by the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), offers competency-based programmes designed to match industry needs, turning theory into tangible skills.
“This centre is more than a school; it is a living monument to purpose, perseverance, and possibility,” he said. “It embodies our collective belief that Ghana’s future will be crafted, not imported.”
He further noted that the Centre’s free tuition, accommodation, and modern workshops have eliminated financial barriers that often prevent young people from acquiring employable skills.
He expressed concern about Ghana’s 21.7 percent youth unemployment rate, noting that only a fraction of the country’s 380,000 annual job seekers find employment. “The question is no longer whether Ghana needs TVET,” he declared. “It is how quickly we can scale it up.”
Through initiatives like the National Apprenticeship Programme, backed by GH₵300 million in government funding, and the soon-to-be-established TVET Fund, the Ghana TVET Service is partnering with the CTVET, National Youth Authority, and private sector stakeholders to create sustainable career pathways for the youth.
“Learners who once stood uncertain at life’s crossroads are now running workshops, employing others, and giving hope where it once seemed lost,” he said proudly.
He added that Ghana’s destiny rests in the hands of its skilled citizens. “Every welder, fashion designer, coder, and technician is a builder of the nation. The future belongs to those who can create, not just those who can recite.”
