Ghana Launches $71 Million Initiative to Boost Youth and Women Employment Through State-of-the-Art TVET Centers

The Social Investment Fund (SIF) in Ghana has announced a transformative initiative to establish eight cutting-edge Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers across seven regions, as part of the $71 million Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion (GWYESCO) Programme. This ambitious project aims to equip young Ghanaians and women with market-relevant skills to foster employment, entrepreneurship, and social harmony.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Wa, SIF Chief Executive Officer, Lawyer Abass Nurideen, highlighted the strategic significance of the centers. “These facilities, located within selected vocational and technical institutions, will be outfitted with modern equipment to ensure participants acquire industry-specific skills that enhance their employability and entrepreneurial potential,” he stated.

According to the SIF ceo, the centres are integral to GWYESCO’s overarching goal of addressing youth and women unemployment while promoting social cohesion. Over the course of four years, the programme will focus on empowering beneficiaries with skills in technical trades, digital technology, creative arts, and other industry-driven disciplines.

Targeting individuals aged 18 to 35, with women aged 18 and above also eligible, the initiative seeks to foster inclusive growth. The program will be implemented across the five northern regions—Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West, and Upper East—as well as Central and Eastern Regions, including the Upper West, a key beneficiary.

Lawyer Nurideen emphasized that GWYESCO is more than skill development; it is a strategic move to promote peace and stability by creating economic opportunities for young people and women. “Our aim is to harness technical and creative skills to catalyze sustainable development and social cohesion in our communities,” he concluded.