By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Sept. 11, GNA—Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, has called for stronger collaboration between the government, private educational institutions, industry, and development partners to transform Agricultural, Technical, and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana.
The Minister said private-sector participation was critical to equipping young people with practical skills relevant to the changing demands of the labour market.
This was in a speech read by Professor George K.T. Oduro, the Technical Advisor to the Sector Minister at the opening ceremony of the Accelerating Change Through Innovation in Agriculture TVET (ACTIVATE) Learning Forum in Accra.
It was on the theme “Cultivating the Future: Integrating Innovation and Inclusion in ATVET for Ghana’s Youth.”
The ACTIVATE Project is a five-year initiative (2024 – 2028) implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, to transform the Agriculture TVET system.
Mr Haruna noted that agriculture remained a major pillar of Ghana’s economy, contributing about 20 per cent of gross domestic product and employing a significant proportion of the country’s workforce.
However, he said the sector continued to face challenges, including outdated infrastructure, weak industry integration, and the perception among young people that agriculture was a profession of last resort.
“Traditional educational models have struggled to keep pace with dynamic market needs, creating an experience gap that locks capable young people out of decent livelihoods,” he said.
The Ministry, Mr Iddrisu explained, was committed to creating an enabling regulatory and policy environment that would encourage greater private-sector participation in tertiary, agricultural, and vocational education.
“Rather than treating private institutions as supplementary service providers, the Ministry viewed them as strategic partners capable of bringing innovation, capital, technology, and practical expertise into the education system,” he said.
The Minister stressed that private institutions were often better positioned to respond quickly to labour-market changes through flexible curricula, modern teaching technologies and industry-oriented training.
He said the Ministry was consequently promoting joint ventures, investment in educational infrastructure and institutional learning between public and private education providers.
Mr Iddrisu identified the ACTIVATE project, as an example of how non-state partnerships could contribute to the transformation of education.
The programme’s objective of reaching more than 80,000 young Ghanaians between the ages of 15 and 35 was described as an important component of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s human capital and economic development.
Statistics from the project reveal that 58,942 young people had been reached through training and outreach activities, with 47,824, representing 81 per cent being young women.
The initiative had also supported 34,638 participants to transition into meaningful employment and enterprise.
The Minister stressed the importance of making the transformation of TVET inclusive, particularly for women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
He said the programme’s focus on gender equity and disability inclusion aligned with the government’s broader policy objectives for inclusive education.
Mrs Appiah Wiafe Addo, Country Director, WUSC, called on stakeholders in Ghana’s agricultural sector to strengthen innovation, inclusion, and market-oriented skills development to make agriculture a more attractive, profitable, and dignified career path for young people.
She said the forum focused on how evidence-based approaches, ranging from inclusive training frameworks to market-linked financing mechanisms, could directly inform future programme design, policy implementation, and scalable workforce strategies across the region.
Mr Paul Kasanga, Country Director, Mastercard Foundation, said Ghana’s agricultural sector must evolve to reflect changing technology, climate conditions, markets, and the aspirations of young people.
He said agriculture remained central to Ghana’s economy and continued to provide livelihoods and opportunities for millions of people.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
11 Sept 2026
Reporter: Kodjo Adams