Dr. Apaak calls for stronger Ghana-Italy cooperation in education, skills development

The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has called for stronger cooperation between Ghana and Italy in education, technical and vocational training, research and innovation.

He said the Ministry of Education was ready to work with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and other Italian partners to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen Ghana’s human capital.

Speaking at the inauguration of AICS’ new office in Accra on Friday, October 9, Dr. Apaak said the establishment of the office represented an opportunity to deepen the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

“The opening of this office is more than a new address in Accra. It reflects the strength of the partnership between Ghana and Italy, and our shared commitment to deepening cooperation for sustainable development,” he said.

He highlighted technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a key area where the two countries could deepen their collaboration, noting that Ghana needed to equip young people with skills relevant to the changing labour market.

“Ghana’s development depends on equipping young people with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. We highly value our collaboration with Italy through initiatives such as RISE-G, INSPIRE and SEE,” he said.

According to him, the initiatives were helping to strengthen the country’s TVET sector, improve the capacity of instructors and create better opportunities for young people to find jobs aligned with their training.

Dr. Apaak also called for stronger partnerships between Ghanaian and Italian universities to promote research, innovation, knowledge exchange and closer links between education and employment.

He said the Ministry was committed to working with AICS and its partners to identify areas of mutual interest and expand existing programmes.

“I would encourage AICS and all our Italian partners to see the Ministry of Education as a willing and active collaborator in that effort, not merely a recipient of support,” he said.

He added that the Ministry operated an open-door policy and welcomed discussions with AICS, the Italian Embassy and other partners on new initiatives and ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation.

The inauguration of the AICS office in Accra is expected to provide a platform for closer engagement between Ghana and Italy on development cooperation, including education and skills development.

Dr. Apaak congratulated AICS on the opening of its office and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to work more closely with the agency and its partners to deliver tangible benefits for Ghanaian youth.