Young competitors from Ghana who represented the country during the 2022 WorldSkills Africa Competition held in Swakopmund, Namibia made Ghana proud on Saturday 2 April, 2022, by picking up four medals at the closing and awards ceremony.
Under the auspices of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Ghana won gold in the Mechanical Engineering CAD and Web Technology competitions. Ghana also won Silver in Fashion Technology and Electrical Installation.
Winning team
The winners at the competition were; Louis Morgan (Mechanical Engineering CAD), Manfuji Yao Agbo (Web Technology), Ibrahim Adam Kwaku (Electrical Installation) and Deladem Oko (Fashion Technology).
Out of the sixteen (16) skill areas at the WorldSkills Africa Competition, team Ghana competed in ten (10) of them.
The other competitors were Isaac Peprah (Automobile Technology), Jonathan Larmie (Cooking), Shaimawu Yakubu Mohammed (Dress making), Christopher Appiah (Welding), Christian Nana Yaw Amoah (Bricklaying), and Samuel Asumadu Owusu and Mante Kwarteng Amos (both competing in Mechatronics)
National skills competitions
Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET, who led the Ghanaian delegation to the competition indicated in a brief statement to the media in Namibia that “the introduction of national skills competitions for technical and vocational education and training is paramount because it has the potential of accelerating any country’s drive towards development”.
“Skills competitions encourages creativity, competitiveness and innovation and more importantly boost the image of a country on the international stage” Dr Kyei Asamoah said.
He therefore urged all students in the various technical and vocational institutions across the country to avail themselves and take part in the next zonal and national skills competitions which will be organized in 2023.
Prioritizing TVET
Dr. Asamoah further indicated that in fulfilment of President Akufo-Addo’s vision to industrialize Ghana, technical and vocational education and training is being prioritized as the bedrock of Ghana’s industrialization agenda.
“Every industrialized nation needs skilled people to be able to become globally competitive and by introducing our youth to skills through competitions we are taking bold steps to ensure the labour requirements of an industrialized nation are realised”. Dr Asamoah said.
Skills competitions
There is an emerging suite of evidence which connects the use of skills competitions in technical and vocational education to improve outcomes for teaching and learning.
Skills competitions provide a great opportunity for employer and industry involvement in competitions. It helps instructors, tutors and trainers to further develop occupational and pedagogical expertise.
In September, 2019, Ghana officially became the 81st Member of WorldSkills International. WorldSkills showcases the value of skills and raises the recognition of skilled professionals worldwide.
Ghana’s membership in WorldSkills offers access to impressive activities, programmes, and forums, that have evolved over 68 years to reflect best practices and excellence in skills development and promotion.
WorldSkills International
Dr Fred Kyei Asamoah in his interaction with the media in Namibia also hinted that, some of the winners from the WorldSkills Africa Competition will go on to represent Ghana at the WorldSkills International Competition which will be taking place in Shanghai, China in October, 2022.
