By Stanley Senya
Accra, Nov. 4, GNA – CWG Ghana has re-launched its technology training arm, CWG Academy, with a renewed focus on equipping students, professionals, and technical practitioners with practical Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills.
It is to enable stakeholders to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The re-launch forms part of the company’s broader effort to bridge the persistent gap between academic instruction and industry practice in Ghana’s technology sector.
The Academy, first opened in 2015, will now offer structured courses in infrastructure, cloud technologies, and software development, targeting learners across multiple proficiency levels.
Madam Harriet Yartey, Vice President for Regions and Managing Director of CWG Ghana, speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first cohort, said the new Academy demonstrated the company’s commitment to nurturing young talent and equipping them with market-relevant skills.
“Today, when looking for a job, it is not enough to say that you are a graduate of computer science or a related discipline. Our academic journey is often very theoretical, so when graduates enter the job market, they struggle to relate what they learnt to what employers require. CWG Academy seeks to bridge that gap by providing hands-on experience that makes trainees job-ready,” she added.
According to the World Bank’s 2024 Africa Pulse Report, nearly 60 per cent of tertiary graduates in Sub-Saharan Africa are unemployed or underemployed within a year of completing their studies, largely due to the mismatch between classroom learning and practical skills.
Locally, the Ghana Statistical Service estimates that youth unemployment stood at 22.5 per cent for ages 15 to 35 and 32 per cent for ages 15 to 24 in 2024, with ICT among the sectors most affected by talent shortages.
The Academy will provide short professional courses for individuals seeking to upgrade their technical competencies, as well as intensive training modules for students and entry-level professionals.
It also intended to use the platform as part of its corporate social responsibility by hosting national service personnel for a year-long, skills-based internship aimed at improving employability outcomes.
Mrs. Yartey recounted how many computer science graduates left University without ever having interacted with live systems or hardware.
“Some students see a server for the first time only when they start work and our goal is to ensure that when they enter the workforce, they bring added value, not just credentials,” she added.
Mr Oluwaseun Layade, CWG Ghana’s Head of Projects & Technology Services, said the relaunch was evidence of the company’s belief that exposure and opportunity are critical to professional growth.
“Everything you have learnt only becomes meaningful when the opportunity to apply it presents itself,” he said.
Raphael Amegashitsi, a computer science student from Central University, described the programme as a turning point in his understanding of technology.
“The Academy has made theoretical concepts more real by showing us how systems operate in practice. I have been able to conceptualise different topics faster and more effectively,” he said.
He said the Company plans to expand the Academy’s partnerships with universities and industry players to keep the curriculum aligned with global standards.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) projects that by 2030, over 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital competencies, creating an annual demand for nearly nine million new tech-skilled workers.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba