Ho MP urges skills development to strengthen artisans, create jobs

Artisans in Ho Central Constituency have been encouraged to embrace vocational training and modern skills development to enhance employment opportunities and economic growth.

The call was made during a Town Hall Meeting organised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central, Hon. Richmond Edem Kpotosu, in Ho.

The engagement, held at the OLA Senior High School Assembly Hall on March 7, 2026, brought together artisans, youth groups, trade associations and development stakeholders to deliberate on skills development and job creation.

The programme, themed “Empowering Artisans for Skills Development, Jobs and National Growth,” sought to promote vocational training, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods among young people in the constituency.

Mr Kpotosu, addressing the gathering, described artisans as key drivers of grassroots economic development and important contributors to the country’s productive sector.

He said artisans including carpenters, masons, tailors, hairdressers, welders, mechanics, electricians and plumbers played indispensable roles in sustaining livelihoods and supporting local economies.

“Artisans are more than labourers; they are architects of aspirations and catalysts for economic progress within our communities,” he stated.

Mr Kpotosu explained that the town hall meeting was organised to strengthen dialogue between government and artisans and ensure that policies and initiatives addressed the real needs of workers.

He urged young people to consider learning vocational trades, stressing that technical skills remained one of the most reliable pathways to sustainable employment.

“Vocational skills provide opportunities for individuals to establish their own businesses and also transfer knowledge through the master–apprentice system,” he said.

The MP further encouraged an interested youth to register with his office to benefit from training and other skills development initiatives being rolled out within the constituency.

He noted that the initiative formed part of broader efforts to tackle unemployment challenges in the Volta Region and across the country.

Engr Christian Agordah, Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, who delivered the keynote address, emphasised the critical role artisans played in Ghana’s socio-economic development.

He explained that artisans contributed to several sectors including construction, manufacturing, mining, and cultural industries, adding that their skills supported infrastructure development and economic productivity.

Engr Agordah said despite their importance, many artisans faced challenges such as limited access to finance, inadequate training opportunities, weak regulation and limited market access.

Mr Gideon Bidor, National President of the Artisans Association of Ghana, also highlighted the economic value of artisans, noting that the sector contributed about 27.4 per cent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product.

He said strengthening technical and vocational education, improving access to financing and formalising the artisan sector would significantly enhance job creation and national development.

Participants at the meeting expressed optimism that continued collaboration between government, training institutions and artisan groups would help transform the sector and create sustainable employment for the youth.