With a festive event at the Accra International Conference Centre, the nation-wide MyTVET Campaign was officially launched by Hon. Gifty Twum Ampofo, Deputy Minister of TVET (MoE).

The nationwide MyTVET campaign is being executed by the COTVET in order to highlight the importance of the TVET sector in Ghana and to increase enrollment in Technical and Vocational Institutions. The campaign is being supported by the Ghana Skills Development Initiative (GSDI), a project implemented by the GIZ and co-financed by the Republic of Germany, the European Union and Switzerland.

In a vivid panel discussion moderated by the Board Chairman of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET), Mr. Francis Ansuah Kyerematen, representatives of the Embassy of Switzerland and the German Embassy as well as the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF), addressed the nearly 900 guests.

Hans-Helge Sander, Chargée d’affaires of the German Embassy stated that the MyTVET campaign will spread the message that TVET is attractive because modern apprenticeship in Ghana include schooling in well-equipped training providers and a parallel skills training in the private sector.

Daniel Lauchenauer, Deputy Head of Cooperation in the Embassy of Switzerland to Ghana, noted that the campaign will advance a professional and attractive image of trained workers to the Ghanaian people as well as to the Ghanaian private sector. "Close to 70% of school graduates in Switzerland start practical training. The key success factor of the Swiss TVET system is private sector involvement, private sector involvement and private sector involvement", he explained. In order to create relevant skills especially among the growing young population in Ghana and for the growing Ghanaian economy, the TVET system has to be strongly anchored and promoted within Ghana’s private sector. In full agreement, Nana Osei Bonsu, Chief Executive Officer of PEF, complemented that the industries of the private sector have to be closely involved in the TVET sector’s training.

For further information:

Ghana Skills Development Initiative

Switzerland’s economic development cooperation with Ghana

Mr Stalder wished Ghana the best in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament and said Ghana and Switzerland had had strong bonds dating back many years, resulting in the visit of the President of Switzerland to Ghana and that of Ghana to his country.

He said the cooperation had extended to trade and investments, including support to peace initiatives.

According to him, Ghana was one of the top three trading partners of Switzerland in Africa.

Receiving the Swiss Envoy, the President said relations between the two countries dated back to the beginning of the 19th century when the Basel Missionaries first came to Ghana, bringing about positive development on their arrival, including the translation of the Bible into local dialects and the establishment of some of the best schools in the country.

He said the relationship had since grown and extended to trade and support to other sectors of national development.

Source: Graphic Online