Dr. Apaak announces plans to expand boatbuilding training to more technical institutions

The Ministry of Education has announced plans to expand modern composite boatbuilding training to more technical and vocational institutions as part of efforts to equip young people with industry-relevant skills.

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, said the government would work with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), industry players and development partners to build on the first cohort of trainers trained under the programme.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at ProZero Ghana Ltd. at the Sekondi Fishing Harbour in Takoradi, Dr. Apaak said the expansion would depend on industry demand and available capacity.

“Building on this first cohort, government will work with CTVET, industry and our development partners to grow this programme responsibly: training more instructors, extending boatbuilding training to more learners, and, where demand and capacity justify it, expanding to additional institutions,” he said.

He said the Ministry would continue widening access to quality technical and vocational education and training to ensure graduates acquire skills that meet the needs of the labour market.

According to him, closer collaboration between educational institutions and industry was necessary to prepare students for existing employment opportunities and the changing demands of the economy.

“Industry and education must keep talking to each other closely, so that graduates are ready for the jobs that actually exist, not the ones that existed a decade ago,” he said.

Dr. Apaak also called on the Government of Denmark and the Confederation of Danish Industry to continue supporting the initiative through further training programmes, technical assistance, curriculum development, equipment and industry exchanges.

He said the government was ready to work with its Danish partners, the Ghana Employers’ Association, CTVET and ProZero Ghana to develop the next phase of the programme.

The training initiative brings together ProZero Ghana, the Ghana Employers’ Association, the Confederation of Danish Industry and CTVET, with support from the Government of Denmark.

Instructors from technical institutions in Tema and Takoradi participated in the programme, which was designed to equip them with the practical and theoretical knowledge required to train future boatbuilders.

Dr. Apaak said investing in instructors would extend the benefits of the programme beyond the initial participants, allowing more learners to acquire specialised skills over time.

He expressed confidence that the first cohort would provide a foundation for developing a sustainable and globally competitive boatbuilding industry in Ghana.

“We are building skills. We are creating opportunity. And one cohort at a time, we are shaping a stronger Ghana,” he said.