The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), in partnership with the Presbyterian University of Ghana and the European Union (EU), has convened government officials, vocational institutions and small enterprises in Tamale to press for reforms that align Ghana’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system with the demands of a green economy.
The policy dialogue, held under the theme “TVET for Green Circular Economy: Opportunities for Women and Youth in the Northern Regions,” brought together directors from the Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Directorate of Education, the TVET Regional Office, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and principals of vocational schools. The discussions centred on how national TVET policy can better support green enterprise development, particularly for women and youth across the Northern Region.
A keynote address by Rev. Dr. Christina Amarchey of the Presbyterian University of Ghana anchored the session, which identified persistent structural weaknesses in the vocational training system. Participants pointed to outdated equipment in training workshops, limited financing for skills delivery, weak ties between TVET institutions and industry, and insufficient enforcement of quality standards as barriers to producing market-relevant green skills.
A dedicated financing session, facilitated by Prof. Dadson Awunyor-Vitor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), explored blended finance models and public-private partnership structures as mechanisms to sustain investment in vocational education.
Christopher Addy-Nayo, Team Leader of the GreenGrowth Ghana Project, called for a shift from theoretical instruction to practical competency building. “Green skills development must go beyond theory. Institutions must equip young people with practical competencies that enable them to build sustainable enterprises while protecting the environment. The momentum across the three regions shows that demand is real. What is needed now is coordinated investment and policy action,” he said.
Participants concluded that a successful transition to a green economy requires coordinated action among government, TVET providers, the private sector and development partners. Regional engagements, training programmes and grant support windows are expected to continue across Northern Ghana as the project moves toward Phase III.
The GreenGrowth Ghana Project is an EU-funded initiative implemented by the GNCCI in partnership with the Presbyterian University of Ghana. Launched in October 2024, it promotes the economic empowerment of women and youth in green and circular economy sectors, including sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, waste management and circular production across the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
