Vocational and Technical Healthcare Education not second choice programme- AFCOM College President

Rev. Ernest Kwabena Agyapong- AFCOM College President

Rev. Ernest Kwabena Agyapong, Founder of All For Christ Outreach Ministries (AFCOM) – Worldwide and the President of AFCOM Mission College, School of Health Science, has cautioned against the wrongful Impression that vocational and technical Healthcare education are second choice programmes.

He opined that, Vocational and Technical Healthcare education is crucial to Ghana’s socio-economic development for a number of practical reasons.

Rev. Ernest Kwabena Agyapong said, Vocational and Technical Health training give skills to the youth and make them productive and responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully towards family, community and general societal well-being.

Addressing the 2nd Graduation and Homecoming Celebration at the school premises in Koforidua on Saturday, 15th December, 2018, he again urged the Ghana Education Service (GES) to give equal attention to secondary, vocational and technical education in the country.

The colourful event which saw 34 Granduands graduating from the college for completing their two years nursing programme was celebrated under the theme: “Promoting Vocational Healthcare in Ghana”.

“Ghana’s educational sector has had significant improvement over the years but there has been a growing concern recently by several Ghanaians about the product of our educational system. Such critics have argued that there is too much emphasis on academic subjects with little attention on vocational and technical education as well as science and ICT which are major ingredients for the building of a sound economy” he said.

Head of Monitoring and evaluation, NVTI Mr. Christian Agordah who delivered an address on behalf of the Executive Director of National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) Mrs. Mawusi Nudekor Awity said, the NVTI as part of its mandate, has strategically positioned itself to ensure that, Vocational training is appropriately made use of, to equip the youth and prospective health professionals with the skills required for the job market.

He therefore appealed to all those who matter in the decision making process regarding quality healthcare delivery in Ghana to consider removing the barriers created to prevent the Healthcare graduates from assisting in the provision of quality healthcare service delivery to Ghanaians in our health facilities by mainstreaming them into the healthcare delivery service in the Country. He said, this will help in our move as a country to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages, and it would also ensure that no one is left behind in the provision of quality healthcare in the country.

He indicated that, the NVTI is determined to repackage the Healthcare graduate by building their capacity in empathy, emotional resilient and international first aid in order to make the Graduate very competitive both locally and internationally, again the NVTI is therefore collaborating with the Ghana Red Cross and SESA Initiative Ghana to roll out this training Capacity Building programme.

AFCOM Missions College is a Christ centric Academic community that provides a comprehensive education for men and women who desire to be equipped to become biblically grounded, spiritually mature, culturally relevant and fully prepared for leadership worldwide.

The college seeks to educate and nurture a distinguished generation with an advanced knowledge in servant leadership, love for humanity and a unique integrity for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor.

In conclusion Rev. Ernest Kwabena Agyapong charges the outgoing and continuing students to embrace Focus and Purpose. These shall in turn rekindle their enthusiasm and reorganize their efforts to equip them to fight the good fight, overcoming countless societal challenges to emerge transformational leaders with notable academic and spiritual excellence as well as hearts and minds of service to God and mankind.