The British Council, in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (COTVET), has held a workshop on the enforcement of Ghana’s first National Apprenticeship Policy which is intended to provide capacity building for some apprentices in the country.
The training, held on last week Wednesday, is set to coordinate Ghana’s apprenticeship sector, merging several separate schemes beneath a common standard; and further help ease the process for apprentices to be able to access skills training in areas ranging from carpentry to dressmaking.
The new policy will also help apprentices to have more opportunities to gain certifications to show evidence of their skills and training, a move that will increase trust in apprenticeship professions and make it more attractive to the youth as well.
Speaking at the workshop, acting Director-General of COTVET, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, said the ever-changing job market and the unemployment rate makes the Apprenticeship Policy long overdue, as it has the potential of reducing the unemployment rate in the country drastically.
He added that government aspires to produce world-class apprentices who can attract the attention of employers from every part of the world.
“Beyond the benefits the country is expected to derive from this national apprenticeship policy, businesses will also benefit immensely if they are guided by the policy. If businesses adopt apprenticeship training as one way of developing their workforce, it can help to develop highly skilled employees.
Apprenticeship programs also reduce turnover rates, increase productivity and lower the cost of recruitment. The apprenticeship will also ensure that businesses have customized training that meets industry standards, tailored to the specific needs of businesses,” he said.
Also adding his comments, Country Director of British Council, Alan Rutt, commended government for the policy, having witnessed the successful running of something similar in his home country.
