Hon Akwasi Appiah, Asokwa Extension Electoral Area Assembly Member and Ashanti Regional Chairperson For Metal Workers Association
As thousands of Ghanaian junior high school graduates prepare to select their preferred Senior High Schools (SHS), a passionate call has been made to shift the focus toward technical and vocational education.
Hon. Akwasi Appiah, the Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the Metal Workers Association (MWA) and Assembly Member for the Asokwa Extension Electoral Area, is urging parents and guardians to actively encourage their wards to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.
According to Hon. Appiah, choosing practical, hands-on courses is one of the most reliable pathways to immediate employability and economic independence in today’s job market.
Skills Gap
In an exclusive interview, Hon. Appiah highlighted a persistent challenge in Ghana’s education system, the high rate of youth unemployment among general high school graduates who do not transition to tertiary institutions.
“Many young people complete the standard Senior High School curriculum without acquiring specific, marketable skills. When they are unable to secure admission to a university, they often struggle to make ends meet,” Hon. Appiah observed.
Rather than viewing TVET as a secondary option, he argues that Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates should proudly prioritize fields such as metal works, carpentry, plumbing, electrical engineering, and ICT.
“I am making this appeal now because this is the critical window when school selection takes place. Parents must act as strategic guides, helping their children look toward TVET as a launchpad for a viable career,” he stated.
Ghana’s TVET Revolution:
In recent years, the government has heavily restructured the sector under the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).
By integrating TVET into the Free SHS policy, upgrading facilities, and standardizing curricula, the state has actively sought to strip away the old stigma that vocational education was only for the academically weak.
Hon. Appiah lauded these systemic upgrades, noting that the TVET Secretariat is now highly resourced to provide robust support services, modern equipment, and standardized training modules directly to schools.
“It is incredibly encouraging to see the level of state resources being poured into TVET today. The specialized support services provided to these students during their studies ensure they graduate not just with certificates, but with industry-ready competencies,” the MWA Chairman explained.
Testimony:
Speaking from his own experience as a business owner, Hon. Appiah shared a powerful case study of how technical training immediately changes a young person’s financial trajectory.
He recently took on a TVET student as an apprentice at his private engineering firm.
While many peers of the same age are financially dependent on their parents for transport and feeding, this student is already an active earner.
“I pay this young man GH₵ 400 every week,” Hon. Appiah revealed.
He added, “Because of the practical skills he learned in school, he is already contributing real value. He doesn’t need to ask his parents for financial support; he is fending for himself and saving money. This is the power of TVET.”
Ultimately, the Assembly Member emphasized that TVET is not just about finding a job but it is about fostering entrepreneurship.
He stressed that graduates of these programs possess the foundational knowledge required to start their own businesses, hire others, and drive grassroots economic growth across Ghana.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi.
