Accra, Aug. 25, GNA-The Design and Technology Institute (DTI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has graduated and certified 550 Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners under its Precision Quality (PQ) programme aimed at improving productivity, business formalisation and job creation within Ghana’s informal sector.
The graduates comprised 490 women, representing 89 per cent of the cohort, and 60 men, including 24 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The graduation ceremony, held in Ho on Monday on the theme: “Formalising the Informal Sector: Honouring Excellence in Skills, Enterprise and Transformation,” attracted about 700 participants, including government officials, industry players, development partners, community leaders, graduates and their families.
The Ho event is the second of three scheduled graduation ceremonies under the programme. DTI said 1,593 MCPs and SMEs had already graduated in Accra, while 2,647 participants are expected to graduate in Kumasi on August 26, bringing the total number of beneficiaries for 2026 to 4,790.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Senyo Kporha of DTI said the graduation was more than a presentation of certificates and represented a demonstration of the potential for large-scale formalisation of Ghana’s informal sector.
“This gathering is a celebration, yes. But it is also a demonstration that Ghana’s informal sector can be formalised at scale, that quality standards and traditional craftsmanship are not opposites, and that a carpenter, a seamstress, a welder, or a caterer can build a business that is both proudly Ghanaian and internationally credible,” he said.
DTI noted that the Precision Quality programme sought to address structural challenges within the informal skills and enterprise ecosystem by linking skills development, certification, business formalisation, financial inclusion, enterprise growth and market access.
Participants received training in entrepreneurship, business management, workplace safety, customer relations, digital literacy and financial management.
The Institute said many of the certified master craft persons supervised apprentices and young workers, enabling improved business practices and quality standards to be passed on to the next generation of skilled workers.
All 550 graduates received Precision Quality certification and support services, including business registration through the Office of the Registrar of Companies, bank account opening assistance and linkages to trade associations and industry networks.
Additional support was provided through partnerships with institutions such as Fidelity Bank, MTN Mobile Money and the Food and Drugs Authority to connect enterprises to financial services, digital platforms and product certification opportunities.
Dr Daniel Agbeko, Business Scale Adviser, underscored the importance of soft skills in business growth and sustainability.
“In the 21st century, being a successful artisan requires more than technical or practical skills. Artisans must also possess soft skills that enable them to work effectively with customers, colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders. These skills are essential for building a good reputation, attracting customers and growing a sustainable business,” he said.
As part of the programme, 80 outstanding MCPs and SMEs were selected to receive Business Scale-up and Apprenticeship Support Kits valued at 250 dollars each, representing a total investment of 20,000 dollars.
The beneficiaries were chosen based on attendance, willingness to engage at least three apprentices, ease of post-training tracking and commitment to inclusive apprenticeship opportunities.
Of the 80 beneficiaries, 12 were Persons with Disabilities.
The beneficiaries operate in sectors including fashion and garment production, hairdressing and beauty, catering and food processing, electricals and electronics, welding and fabrication, printing and information and communications technology.
A representative of the Mastercard Foundation said the initiative reflected a shared commitment to expanding dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for young people, especially young women.
The representative said entrepreneurs, artisans and small business owners remained central to Africa’s economic transformation and that investments in skills development, enterprise growth and formalisation would help create sustainable livelihoods for young people.
The ceremony also marked the launch of the PQ MCPs and SMEs Alumni Association to promote networking, mentorship, peer learning and continued engagement among beneficiaries.
DTI said the initiative formed part of its wider efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and training systems, improve enterprise productivity and create sustainable pathways from skills development to employment and economic participation.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade