Omanghana
The government plans to expand modern boatbuilding training across technical and vocational institutions to strengthen local manufacturing, develop maritime skills and create employment opportunities for young Ghanaians.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Clement Abas Apaak announced the plans at the graduation of the first Training of Trainers cohort at ProZero Ghana Limited, located at the Sekondi Fishing Harbor in the Western Region.
He said the next phase would involve training additional instructors and extending the program to more learners. Expansion into other institutions would depend on industry demand and the capacity of schools to deliver the training effectively.
The initiative brings together ProZero Ghana, the Ghana Employers’ Association, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Confederation of Danish Industry, with support from the Danish government.
Instructors from technical institutions in Tema and Takoradi completed theoretical and practical training in modern composite boatbuilding. They are expected to pass those skills on to students, helping establish a stronger base of local expertise in vessel construction and maintenance.
Dr Apaak said Ghana’s fisheries, inland water transport and coastal industries offered considerable opportunities, but these required workers equipped with relevant technical skills. He noted that modern boatbuilding could improve safety standards, support technology transfer and strengthen domestic production.
He also called for closer cooperation between training institutions and employers to ensure that graduates acquire skills suited to available jobs.
The Deputy Minister appealed to Danish partners to sustain their assistance through curriculum development, equipment, technical support and professional exchanges. He said the government was ready to collaborate with local and international stakeholders on the program’s next phase.
ProZero Ghana Managing Director Peter Amakye described the training as an important investment in the country’s maritime workforce. He said the participating instructors would help prepare a new generation of technicians and artisans capable of building and maintaining modern vessels locally.
Source: Omanghana
