Sixteen graduates, consisting three females and 13 males, successfully completed a six-month Solar Advanced Professionals course – being the first – at the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Tema under its Electricals Department.
The training was built up with the support of private sector foundations from Germany and Switzerland and the Government of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westfalia.
A collaborative effort between the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK), Don Bosco Technical Institute, Jakob-Christian Adam Foundation, and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the aim of the initiative is to skill the youth in photovoltaic solar technology to earn a livelihood, and assist meet the growing energy requirements of the country.
The courses in solar technology are designed for young men and women with an electrical training background and have developed an interest in solar installation and servicing.
The six-month Solar Advanced Professional course is accredited by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK).
The Don Bosco Technical Institute is a pioneer in TVET training in Ghana, and its solar technicians have many years of working experience in solar streetlight installation among other solar services. As a result, the entire institute is no longer dependent on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) since the campus is completely 100 percent self-reliant on solar.
After completion of the course, trainees receive internationally recognised certificates from both Don Bosco and AHK. They are able to carry out solar PV installations up to 300KWp; design and estimate solar installations; and inspect, trace, test and repair faulty PV installations, etc.
Reverend Brother Christof Baum – Director, Don Bosco Solar and Renewable Centre, said the centre is for both solar installation and training, and has since trained 678 people. He said the target group is between 18-25 years and prospective applicants must have completed high school with an electrical background.
Martin Wilde of Jakob-Christian Adam Foundation/Germany said the private foundation was established by a childless couple in Germany for young people in Africa to be focused on vocational training. He explained that the reason why Germany is so advanced is that although 60 percent of the workforce didn’t go to the university, they engaged in technical skills which signifies the success of the German economy since as he put it: “Germans are not afraid to get their hands dirty”.
They believe in hands-on experience, he added.
Ms. Romana Simon, Deputy Head, Development Cooperation of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, represented the ambassador and extended her government’s felicitations to the graduates, and wished them well in their field of endeavour.
Burkhart Hellemann, CEO of the delegation of German Industry and Commerce (AHK), also gave words of encouragement to the graduates and urged them to use their skill to better their lives.
