Ghana to establish skills development university with $50m from German support package

Ghana is set to establish a skills development university with $50 million from a $132 million support package from the German government, Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Special Presidential Initiatives, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has disclosed. He said the university would be dedicated to developing practical skills among young people as part of efforts to bridge the gap between skills acquisition and employment. “Part of the money, which is going to be the $50 million, will be used to construct a university for skill development.

For the first time, a skill development university in Ghana.” The remaining $82 million, he said, will support a programme to recruit young people who have already acquired skills and place them with companies to gain practical workplace experience. Dr Pelpuo said government would provide monthly financial support to the trainees while they work with participating companies, allowing them to improve their skills without placing the cost on employers. He said companies that find the trainees valuable could subsequently absorb them into their workforce.

Those who are not absorbed, he said, would still leave with enhanced skills and experience that could enable them to establish themselves independently. Dr Pelpuo said the German government had agreed to provide the $132 million for the skills development initiative, which he described as part of efforts to expand opportunities for young people with technical and vocational skills. The German government has committed $132 million to support skills development and workplace training for young people in Ghana, the Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Special Presidential Initiatives, Dr Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has disclosed.

According to Dr Pelpuo, $82 million of the funding will support a programme to recruit young people who have already acquired skills and place them in workplaces where they can gain practical experience. “I’ve had a very good discussion with the Germans, who I got so close with and travelled there and had meetings with a number of people. And we eventually agreed for them to send us an amount of money that can get us $132 million for training purposes,” he said on JoyNews’ The Pulse.

He added that “We are using $82 million of that amount to make sure we recruit as many young people as possible who have already gotten some skills, put them in the areas of their capacity, get them to work.” He said the government would provide monthly support for participants while they work with companies, allowing them to improve their skills without placing the financial burden on employers. “We will pay him on a monthly basis to make sure that he improves his skill.” Dr Pelpuo said participating companies could subsequently absorb trainees who prove to be valuable additions to their workforce. He said those who are not absorbed would still gain additional experience and skills that could enable them to establish themselves independently.

The remaining $50 million, he said, would be used to establish a university dedicated to skills development. “Part of the money, which is going to be the 50 million dollars, will be used to construct a university for skill development. For the first time, a skill development university in Ghana.” Dr Pelpuo said the initiative forms part of efforts to bridge the gap between young people with technical skills and available employment opportunities.