Accra, March 10, GNA-The Design & Technology Institute (DTI), in partnership with Accents & Art Ltd, has graduated 348 trainees under the Precision Quality Internship (PQI), marking another major step in Ghana’s efforts to build a standards-driven, industry-ready technical workforce for an increasingly AI-enabled industrial landscape.
The ceremony, held at the Trinity Theological Seminary, East Legon, was celebrated under the theme: “Precision TVET in the Age of AI: Preparing Industry-Ready Technicians for Transformation.”
The graduation marks Cohort 42 of the PQI programme.
Industry partners have already committed 205 job placements for the graduating cohort. In addition, 50 beneficiaries will receive start-up kits to begin their entrepreneurial journeys, while five high-potential innovators have been selected for incubation at the DTI Innovation and Incubation Hub.
Speakers from industry and academia emphasized the urgent need for Ghana’s technical workforce to adapt to automation, AI-assisted quality assurance, and digitally integrated production systems.
DTI’s Precision Quality™️ (PQ™️) framework, central to the internship, was highlighted as a transformative model addressing persistent gaps in workmanship, documentation integrity,
adherence to standards and consistency and process discipline.
“This model does more than train young people to use tools. It trains them to think and work like professionals who understand standards, measurement and quality,” officials noted.
Trainees were equipped with practical instruction across multiple disciplines including welding and fabrication, spraying and finishing, hospitality, electrical installation, fashion, business skills, software development, carpentry, upholstery and CAD-CAM.
Speakers acknowledged that Ghana’s TVET ecosystem continued to struggle with weaknesses that become more evident as industry digitizes.
“The margin for error in modern industry is shrinking,” organisers emphasized. “Industries now depend on measurable accuracy and traceable documentation.”
Recent labour data shows Ghana’s unemployment rate averaged 13.1% in 2024, with nearly 70% of the unemployed aged 15–35, reinforcing the need for job-ready technical training aligned with industry demands.
“The PQI was designed to close this industry-readiness gap,” officials explained.
Mr. Kwame Nyatuame, Creative Director, The AfroEdtechEnthusiast, who spoke on “Precision, Performance, and Competitiveness in AI-Enabled Industries,” stressed that AI-enabled diagnostics, predictive maintenance and automated quality inspection were reshaping how industries operate.
“Competitiveness now depends on standardisation, documentation accuracy, and quality discipline,” he said. “You are not just technicians—you are custodians of industrial processes.”
Mr. Nyatuame reminded graduates that national development depended on skilled, disciplined technicians.
“Ghana is waiting—not for the next government or foreign investor—but for you.”
He emphasized that precision was an economic asset, reducing waste, boosting productivity, and strengthening investor confidence.
He challenged graduates to continually self-improve:
“Every 90 days ask yourself: What can I do better? What can I do faster? What must I learn next?”
“Technology doesn’t change the world—people do. People with courage and vision. Don’t shrink. Don’t dim your light.”
Dr. David Boison, CEO, Knowledge Web Centre, explored “AI, Systems Thinking, and the Future of Precision TVET” and urged graduates to embrace AI as an enhancer—not a replacement—of foundational skill.
“AI does not replace foundational skill; it amplifies it. Technicians must develop systems awareness and intellectual agility to thrive in digital production environments.”
Mohit Sharma, PQI Project Coordinator, celebrated the transformation of the trainees and the collective effort behind the PQI programme.
He acknowledged the critical support of the Mastercard Foundation, noting:
“We cannot overlook the support that has made this journey possible—not just for DTI, but for young people across Africa.”
Reflecting on the growth of the cohort, he added:
“When I saw the students at the beginning, they were full of uncertainty and low confidence. But today, I see energy, confidence, faith and determination.”
He reminded graduates that the PQI was not an endpoint but a launchpad:
“This is not the end of the journey—it is just the beginning. The world of work is dynamic: full of opportunities, challenges and constant change.”
He encouraged graduates to persist in learning, skilling, upskilling and reskilling, emphasizing that their futures will be shaped by their own decisions, work ethic and resilience.
Sharma also expressed gratitude to industry partners, technical universities, facilitators and instructors as well as ecosystem collaborators.
Stakeholders praised the PQI as a cutting-edge model that aligned training with real workplace expectations.
The programme’s consistent results position it as a blueprint for modern apprenticeship and industry-validated TVET systems across Africa.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade