By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Sept. 5, GNA – The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), Plan International Korea and Plan International Ghana, has launched the Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project.
The five-year initiative is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and equipping young people with industry-relevant automotive skills.
The project, which runs from 2026 to 2030, was launched on the theme: “Empowering the Youth to Drive Automotive Excellence in Ghana.”
The launch also marked the unveiling of the project’s new identity, Hyundai-KOICA NextGen, previously known as the Automotive Service Excellence and Youth Empowerment (ASEYE) Project.
The initiative sought to improve the quality and relevance of automotive training, strengthen collaboration between TVET institutions and industry, and create pathways for young people to acquire practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship in the rapidly evolving automotive sector.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr Frederick Tei-Nobi, Acting Country Director of Plan International Ghana, described the project as a major milestone in efforts to strengthen automotive skills development and create meaningful opportunities for young people.
He said Ghana’s youth possessed the talent, creativity and ambition to contribute significantly to national development but required access to quality training, practical experience and stronger links to the world of work.
“The automotive industry is changing rapidly. New technologies, including electric mobility, digital diagnostics and advanced automotive systems, are transforming the skills required in the sector. Our training systems must therefore evolve alongside the industry,” he said.
Mr Tei-Nobi noted that the project would contribute to a more responsive and industry-relevant TVET ecosystem capable of preparing young women and men for opportunities in the automotive industry.
The establishment of Hubs of Excellence and maintenance technology education centres, he said would provide modern, practical learning environments connected to industry needs and emerging technologies, including hybrid and electric vehicles.
Mr Tei-Nobi stressed the importance of gender inclusion, saying the project would help challenge the perception that automotive careers were reserved for men.
“The Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project gives us an opportunity to create pathways where young women can see themselves as technicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, electric mobility professionals and leaders. Talent should determine opportunity, not gender,” he stated.
The Acting Country Director expressed gratitude to KOICA, Hyundai Motor Company, Plan International Korea and the Government of Ghana for their support, describing the project as a model of effective collaboration between government, development partners, educational institutions and the private sector.
He urged young people to take advantage of the opportunities the project would provide, including technical training, practical exposure and employability skills development.
“For Plan International Ghana, this partnership is closely aligned with our commitment to creating opportunities that enable young people to build secure, productive and fulfilling futures. We are proud to be part of this journey and look forward to working with all our partners to ensure that Hyundai-KOICA NextGen delivers meaningful and sustainable results,” he added.
Launching the project, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education, said the initiative represented a significant investment in Ghana’s youth and the future of the country’s automotive industry.
He described the project as a timely intervention, noting that the global automotive sector was transitioning towards cleaner and smarter mobility solutions, making it imperative for Ghana’s TVET sector to adapt accordingly.
“The Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project is a five-year partnership dedicated to equipping young Ghanaian men and women with industry-relevant automotive skills, including competencies in emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, while modernising TVET delivery through curriculum development, infrastructure and scholarships,” he said.
Mr Iddrisu said substantial progress had already been made ahead of the official launch through extensive stakeholder engagements involving the Ministry of Education, the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), the Ghana TVET Service, Accra Technical Institute (ATI) East Legon, Ho Technical University (HTU), and other key institutions.
He disclosed that the review of a new electric vehicle curriculum was underway and expected to be completed by November 2026, with its official launch scheduled for December 2026.
According to him, the curriculum would prepare trainees with skills relevant to both Ghana’s automotive market and the global industry.
The Minister also announced that sites in Accra and Ho had been identified for the development of two maintenance and training hubs, which would serve as centres of excellence for automotive training.
He said procurement processes for architects and supervising consultants were progressing, with construction expected to commence before the end of 2026 and completion targeted for the second quarter of 2027.
Mr Iddrisu revealed that equipment procurement had been confirmed under the project, including two electric vehicles, two automotive training units and electric vehicle chargers.
“These investments will ensure that when our young trainees step into these hubs, they will train on equipment that reflects the real demands of a modern automotive workforce,” he said.
The Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the project and strengthening Ghana’s national TVET agenda through industry-responsive training programmes.
“It is now my honour and privilege to formally declare the Automotive Service Excellence and Youth Empowerment Project officially launched. I look forward with great optimism to the transformative impact this project will have on Ghanaian youth and Ghana’s automotive industry,” he stated.
In a message delivered on behalf of Hyundai Motor Company, Mr Joongsun Ko, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Planning, said the company remained committed to developing technology talent and supporting the competitiveness of the automotive industry.
“Through an updated curriculum covering the latest developments in hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance, we are equipping Ghanaian youth with future-ready skills and empowering them to play a meaningful role in the continued growth of Ghana’s automotive industry,” he said.
Mr Ko expressed confidence that the project would have a lasting impact on thousands of young people and their communities.
The Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project is being implemented by Plan International Korea and Plan International Ghana with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA and in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company.
The project will work closely with the Ministry of Education, Ghana TVET Service, CTVET, ATI East Legon and Ho Technical University to strengthen institutional capacity, improve training facilities and curricula, expand industry engagement, and create greater opportunities for young people, particularly young women, to access quality automotive skills development.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
Writer: Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Email: [email protected]