By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, June 18, GNA – The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has cut sod for the construction of an Integrated Industry Training, Entrepreneurship and Database Hub (ITAED Hub) to equip Ghanaian youth with skills in electric vehicle (EV) technology and mechatronics.
The project, which is being implemented by CSIR in collaboration with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), seeks to an overall objective of strengthening practical skills development in Ghana.
Professor Paul Bosu, Director-General of CSIR, said the facility would serve as a modern, high-tech training centre focused on providing hands-on experience in engineering and digital technologies.
“This project is about the construction of an integrated training, entrepreneurship and database hub for Ghana — a modern high-tech lab for the training of youth,” Prof. Bosu said.
He noted that the training would target young people through short-term, industry-oriented programmes designed in collaboration with AGI and CTVET.
The DG added that participants would be recruited from technical institutions and industry networks.
According to him, the facility is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months, after which operations would commence to train young people in various technical and entrepreneurial fields.
Delivering the keynote address, Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, described the ITAED Hub as a strategic intervention to address the persistent mismatch between skills training and industrial needs in the country.
She cited a recent study indicating that only 24 per cent of technical and vocational institutions in Ghana currently provide competency-based training, resulting in a gap between education outcomes and industry requirements.
“The ITAED Hub is not simply a building project. It is a declaration of our nation’s resolve to equip its most valuable asset — our youth — with the skills to drive the industries of tomorrow,” she said.
The Minister said the Hub would deliver practical, industry-aligned training in key areas, including automotive technology, mechatronics, and computer-aided design and manufacturing systems such as CNC and 3D printing.
She said the initiative would also support government’s broader industrialisation agenda by building a skilled workforce, reducing reliance on imported technical expertise and promoting local entrepreneurship in manufacturing and agro-processing sectors.
The ITAED Hub is funded through a €3 million grant secured under the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) programme of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), with financial support from the German Development Bank (KfW).
The project aims to create a world-class training environment that will enhance youth employability through practical skills development, industry partnerships and continuous professional learning programmes.
GNA
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Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong