By Sammy CRABBE
In the previous two articles, we made the case for a radical overhaul of Ghana’s educational system—trimming the bureaucracy, leasing underperforming public universities like Legon to globally-proven institutions, aligning education with the One Square Mile vision, and bringing in diaspora and global talent to ignite innovation.
But to truly rewire our national trajectory, we must go beyond elite universities and academic theories. We must reimagine vocational education and technical universities as powerful engines of productivity and dignity.
For far too long, vocational education in Ghana has been seen as a last resort—a fallback for those who couldn’t “make the grades.” This is not only outdated thinking; it is dangerous.
The economies that thrive in the 21st century are not built by professors alone. They are built by highly skilled technicians, artisans, digital workers, robotics specialists, coders, machine operators, and craftspeople who understand how to make, build, fix, and create.
If Ghana is to truly industrialize and digitalize, we must elevate vocational and technical training to the same status as traditional university education—and in many cases, higher.
Technical universities must become centres of applied excellence
Ghana’s technical universities—such as Koforidua, Kumasi, Accra, Sunyani, Ho, and Takoradi—must be restructured as applied science and innovation hubs. They should not be clones of traditional universities, nor should they be judged by the same metrics.
Their success must be measured by the number of products they develop, the startups they launch, and the number of students who graduate with employable, monetizable skills.
We must align technical university curricula with high-demand sectors: solar energy systems, AI and robotics maintenance, precision agriculture, renewable construction materials, automation, welding and fabrication, coding for embedded systems, 3D printing, and even blockchain development for industrial applications.
Let each technical university specialize in a few of these core areas based on regional strengths. Let Koforidua focus on green tech. Let Takoradi lead in industrial automation. Let Kumasi drive precision manufacturing. Let Ho and Sunyani lead in smart agriculture and agro-processing.
Equip these institutions with modern tools, software labs, maker spaces, and partnerships with global technology manufacturers like Siemens, Huawei, ABB, and Bosch. And most importantly, pay their lecturers like the nation-builders they are.
Vocational education must be rebranded and refined
We must do more than invest—we must rebrand. Vocational training in Ghana has suffered from reputational neglect. We need a national campaign to redefine what it means to be a master plumber, electrician, software technician, welder, or drone repair engineer.
These careers must be showcased in schools, communities, media, and policy summits as pathways to wealth, stability, and national development.
It is unacceptable that someone with two degrees cannot find a job, while a well-trained welder, if properly certified, can earn a steady income both locally and internationally. We must shift the narrative from “white collar or nothing” to “skilled hands build nations.”
Ghana can become a regional hub for skilled labour export. With proper certification systems, English-language instruction, and global accreditation partnerships, our artisans could be employed in global green energy projects, shipyards, infrastructure megaprojects, and tech support services. Let’s formalize this pathway and ensure the government supports it through bilateral labour agreements.
The missing link – STEM Education and early intervention
No matter how much we invest in universities or vocational programs, if our children are not exposed to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) from an early age, we are simply recycling outdated thinking into modern institutions.
Every child in Ghana, whether in Nima, Navrongo, or Nkawkaw, must have access to early coding exposure, robotics kits, science clubs, digital arts, and basic AI and data literacy. This must be embedded in the national curriculum—not as an afterthought, but as core.
We should work with organizations like Raspberry Pi Foundation, Khan Academy, and African-led STEM education nonprofits to roll out affordable digital labs in every district.
And we must train a new generation of STEM educators—not just to teach theory, but to excite curiosity and inspire creation.
Imagine if every junior high school student could build a drone, program a simple app, or 3D print a model. Imagine what happens when this culture spreads across our towns, villages, and cities. We move from a nation of consumers to a nation of creators.
Funding and partnerships – we cannot do it alone
None of these reforms can happen in isolation. The private sector must step up. Companies must “adopt” vocational centres and tech universities, provide real-life training modules, donate equipment, and co-develop curriculum. In return, they get first access to top talent. Government can incentivize this through tax reliefs, recognition programs, and fast-tracked licensing.
Development partners must shift their aid focus from white papers to welding workshops, from policy conferences to programming bootcamps. If they truly want to see Ghana rise, they must fund skills—not slogans.
And we must not forget the diaspora. Many African-Americans and Ghanaians abroad have hands-on skills in trades, technology, and applied innovation. Let us invite them—not only as returnees, but as teachers and partners in vocational transformation.
Conclusion: Let the Builders Build
For decades, Ghana has celebrated the talkers—the loudest voices, the sharpest suits, the best debaters. It is time we also celebrated the builders. Those who fix machines, wire homes, plant smart farms, write code, and invent products. These are the men and women who will build the Ghana of the 21st century.
Let us give them the tools, the respect, and the opportunity to do so.
In the next article, we will explore how Ghana can use the One Square Mile to launch a Digital National Service Corps—a bold new idea to train, deploy, and retain Ghana’s best talent to transform public services, create startups, and accelerate the digital economy.
>>>the writer is a PhD candidate specializing in blockchains and decentralized finance at the University of Bradford. He holds an MBA in International Marketing from the International University of Monaco. Sammy was the first president of the Ghana Business Outsourcing Association and developed Africa’s first data entry operation and Ghana’s first medical transcription company. He can be reached via [email protected]
