Ghana, Zambia strengthen cooperation on skills development and youth employment

Ghana and Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills development and youth employment through a high-level exchange mission held in Accra.

Welcoming the Zambian delegation, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, said collaboration among African countries is necessary to address common labour market challenges, including youth unemployment, skills mismatches, technological changes and the transition to greener and more digital economies.

He noted that skills development remains a major contributor to economic growth, industrial development and improved productivity across the continent.

“This exchange mission provides an invaluable platform to strengthen institutional relationships, deepen South-South cooperation, and foster the sharing of best practices in skills development and employment creation,” he said.

On his part, the Director-General of the Commission for TVET, Mr Zakaria Sulemana, outlined Ghana’s efforts to build an industry-led, inclusive and responsive TVET system.

According to him, the country has introduced policy and legal reforms, competency-based training, workplace learning opportunities and stronger quality assurance systems. He added that the proposed TVET Fund is expected to support the development of skills needed for employment and entrepreneurship in a changing world of work.

The Zambian delegation, led by the Director of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Mr Paul Mumba, expressed appreciation for Ghana’s hospitality and reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to learning from Ghana’s experience in TVET governance and implementation.

The delegation commended Ghana’s network of Sector Skills Bodies and indicated its readiness to adopt lessons that could strengthen Zambia’s skills development system.

The Director of TVET at the Ministry of Education, Mrs Rejoice Dankwa, stated the importance of African countries working together to address shared skills and employment challenges.

She noted that both Ghana and Zambia are implementing European Union-supported programmes to improve employability and prepare young people for emerging job opportunities.

The exchange mission is expected to strengthen cooperation between the two countries through the sharing of experiences in TVET governance, labour market information systems, apprenticeship programmes, industry partnerships and skills development strategies that support sustainable employment and economic growth.

The mission, organised under the European Union-supported Skills Development Programme in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), brought together government officials, policymakers, TVET practitioners, industry representatives and development partners to share experiences and explore approaches to skills development and workforce readiness.