By Emmanuel Gamson
Takoradi, Oct. 05, GNA – The Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development (GEC) has hosted the 2026 Ghana Career and Migration Fair to connect young people directly with employers, while providing them with information on skills, careers, employment and safe migration opportunities.
The eighth edition, held in Takoradi, under the theme: “Empowering Youth with Skills and Opportunities”, brought together recruiters and employers from Ghana, Germany and other European countries to connect with jobseekers, students, and young professionals on career and safe migration pathways, with a spotlight on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Mr Andreas Berding, Head of the GEC, at the opening of the event said the central objective of the Ghana Career and Migration Fair was to bring opportunities closer to young people and create a space where they could connect directly with employers, learn about career pathways, and make informed decisions about their future.
He stated that the Fair had over the years become a platform that brought together young people, employers, government institutions, training providers, and partners working in employment, skills development and migration.
According to him, this year’s focus on TVET was important as the world of work was changing, adding that employers were looking for people with practical, technical and digital skills.
Mr Berding said: “Across Europe, including Germany, there are shortages in areas such as construction, manufacturing, transport, hospitality and other skilled occupations, and Ghanaian young people have skills, so what we need to do is strengthen those skills, connect them to industry and make sure young people know where those skills can take them.”
He asked the participants to take advantage of the session and build connections and seek the right information to enable them to make informed decisions about their career pathways.
Mr Frederick Obeng Abekah, Deputy Chief Labour Officer at the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, said the Fair had at a critical time when Ghana, like many countries, was confronted with the challenge of ensuring that its young people were equipped with the skills, information, and opportunities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing labour market.
He noted that migration was increasingly becoming a consideration for many young people seeking economic opportunities, saying it was essential that migration decisions were based on accurate information and undertaken through safe, regular, and legal pathways.
He said the Ministry remained committed to supporting labour migration governance, protecting migrant workers, and ensuring that Ghanaian workers could access opportunities abroad under dignified and lawful conditions.
He commended the GEC and partners for hosting the event saying; “This Fair provides an important opportunity to educate young people on both local employment prospects and safe mobility options.”
Mr Fuseini Donkor, Deputy Director-General in charge of Finance and Administration, National Service Authority (NSA), said one of the challenges confronting young people was the availability of clear pathways from education and training to sustainable employment and economic opportunity, “that is why platforms such as the Ghana Career and Migration Fair are important.”
He called on stakeholders to continue creating opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, entrepreneurship, decent employment, and skills development.
He said the NSA welcomed partnerships that could transform national service from an experience into a stronger pathway to sustainable employment and lifelong professional development.
Madam Silvia Tizzi, Programme Officer, European Union Delegation to Ghana, said they were working with the Government of Ghana and development partners to support job creation and decent work, not only in traditional sectors, but also in emerging areas that would shape the future, such as the green economy, digital innovation and pharmaceuticals.
“But we also know that tackling youth unemployment is not only about creating jobs. It is also about making sure that young people have the right skills for the labour market.
This is why the EU and the German Cooperation are working hand in hand with Ghana to strengthen the TVET system, so that training becomes more relevant, more practical and more connected to real economic needs,” she stated.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Emmanuel Gamson