Former President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a comprehensive plan to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates during his campaign for the 2024 presidential election in Ghana. Mahama proposes the introduction of a structured mentorship system for graduates with entrepreneurial aspirations, leveraging the Business Growth Apprenticeship module under the National Apprenticeship Programme. He emphasized the need for enterprise development and job creation, asserting that the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will implement core entrepreneurship and business development programs within the Workplace Experiential Learning framework. By aligning with stakeholders and tapping into the Ghana Skills Development Fund, Mahama aims to foster innovation in priority sectors to bolster national development and economic growth.
As part of his manifesto dubbed “Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Accountability, and Prosperity,” Mahama stresses the importance of structured support and collaboration among TVET graduates to harness their multi-skilled capabilities. He envisions a collaborative environment where diverse talents can come together for innovative product development and secure sustainable funding for their enterprises. This approach includes creating business incubation support mechanisms through specialized TVET Centres of Excellence and measures to promote the fabrication and assembly of power tools locally. Mahama also highlighted the critical role of education quality enhancement for TVET instructors, advocating for partnerships with technical universities to impart pedagogical skills and continuous professional development opportunities.
Reflecting on the past achievements of the NDC government, Mahama pointed out that their previous emphasis on educational reforms has been undermined by what he characterized as a decline under the current administration. This decline, where infrastructure deficits and inadequate teaching resources have become commonplace, has led to serious challenges in the education sector. Mahama cited alarming statistics regarding broken infrastructure, reliance on makeshift learning environments, and the absence of critical learning materials, which together paint a grim picture of the current educational landscape. He expressed that basic education, in particular, has experienced significant neglect, resulting in a crisis that demands immediate attention and rectification.
Critically, former President Mahama argued that the implementation of the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy has been fraught with flaws under the current government, contributing to instability in the education system. He contended that urgent reform and reevaluation of this program are necessary to avert further deterioration of educational standards. Mahama’s remarks reflect a vision for restoring educational integrity and revitalizing the professional landscape for TVET instructors as key components of his campaign platform. A significant focus is placed on the need to bolster vocational training to respond to the evolving job market demands while enhancing teaching methodologies and professional development for educators.
In his address, Mahama further underscored a commitment to providing scholarships aimed at enhancing professional education and research capabilities of TVET instructors, thus promoting a more skilled workforce. He has laid out ambitious goals such as addressing the lack of teaching materials, improving infrastructural conditions, and ensuring that consistent investment is made in the educational system to enable it to cater adequately to Ghana’s demographic needs. He is advocating for a collective effort to reinstate Ghana’s educational framework to ensure it meets both contemporary and future demands for skilled labor, crucially focusing on the importance of TVET in this process.
In closing, former President Mahama appealed to the electorate to support his vision by voting for him and the NDC’s parliamentary candidates in the upcoming elections. He believes that through a united approach and a systematic review of existing policies and programs, the NDC can steer Ghana towards inclusive growth, accountability, and sustainable prosperity. His campaign is thus positioned around revitalizing key educational sectors, particularly TVET, to create a resilient economy capable of adapting to global challenges and opportunities while ensuring that the Ghanaian youth are equipped with relevant skills for development.
