The Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, Dr Eric Kofi Adzroe, has called for stronger collaboration between the Government and the Church to promote technical and vocational education as a sustainable response to unemployment, indiscipline and economic dependency.
Dr Adzroe said government has a duty to create an enabling environment for businesses, but cannot employ everyone, making skills acquisition essential for sustainable livelihoods.
He expressed concern about the rising number of young people who complete school but remain outside employment and education systems, describing the situation as a potential “time bomb” requiring urgent attention.
According to him, Ghana must reduce reliance on public sector jobs and prioritise equipping young people with practical skills to start businesses and contribute to national development.
“The only way we can sustain economic independence and stem unemployment is through the acquisition of skills,” he said.
Dr Adzroe also urged the Church to revive its historic role in education and character formation through the establishment and management of schools.
He noted that mission schools are known for discipline and strong moral values, and called for closer Church-Government collaboration to address rising indiscipline.
He linked social challenges such as corruption, environmental degradation and indiscipline on the roads to weak character formation, stressing that education must go beyond academics to produce responsible citizens.
“When you talk about cleanliness and the mind is not disciplined, you are not talking about anything,” he said, adding that a clean environment depends on responsible civic behaviour.
Dr Adzroe further said the Church could support government efforts to strengthen skills development, improve learning environments and expand opportunities for young people.
He highlighted ongoing Ministry of Education initiatives to improve technical and vocational education and called for increased investment in TVET infrastructure and training.
He added that Ghana could learn from developed countries where technical and vocational skills have driven industrialisation, job creation and economic transformation.
He urged religious institutions and other stakeholders to engage constructively with government in addressing unemployment, indiscipline and other socio-economic challenges.
He said the EPCG General Assembly provided an important platform for such dialogue and called for a renewed partnership between the Church and Government to equip young people with both knowledge and practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
