TVET, Technical Universities to produce job-ready graduates – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged a major overhaul of Ghana’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, aiming to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills to address youth unemployment and drive national industrialisation.

Delivering his 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament, Mahama said, “Technical and vocational education and training remain a critical pillar of our strategy to address youth unemployment and as a skills development pathway. Government will construct six brand new regional TVET centres of excellence across the country to equip our young people with practical industry-relevant skills aligned with the demands of the evolving job market.”

The President explained that the reforms will also include a review of the National Curriculum to align TVET education with the OECD Future of Education and Skills Framework. This, he said, will make technical education more adaptive, resilient, and responsive to the dynamic needs of employers and the economy.

Mahama further highlighted plans to expand higher education access through the establishment of new public universities and technical universities. “To expand access to higher education and support balanced regional growth, we’ve entered international partnerships to establish two public universities—one in Kintampo in the Bono East region, another in Jasikan in the Oti region. I’m happy to announce that a grant has also been sourced from China to establish a new public university in Damango in the Savannah region,” he stated.

In addition, Mahama announced, “Government is going to establish three new technical universities to strengthen skills development, enhance innovation, and support national industrialisation efforts.” He emphasised that these institutions will deliver high-policy, industry-aligned, and practice-oriented training, aiming to close the skills gap and create a workforce ready for modern industrial and technological sectors.

Mahama concluded, “Technical universities and TVET centres will form the backbone of our strategy to transform our youth into job-ready graduates. These investments in education and skills development are critical to Ghana’s future industrial growth and economic resilience.”

The government has committed to ensuring these projects are implemented efficiently, with a focus on quality, regional equity, and long-term sustainability, signalling a renewed focus on human capital as the foundation of Ghana’s development.