By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Dec. 20, GNA – Mr. Dominic Kofi Eyiah,the President of the National Association of Heavy-duty Equipment Operators Ghana (NAHEOG), says Ghana’s investment in education has transformed its citizens’ lives and made a lasting impact across Africa.
He said the commitment to education, starting from the establishment of institutions like the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute, had played a key role in fostering intellectual leadership, Pan-Africanism, and independence movements across the continent.
Mr. Eyiah added that these institutions had provided an education that inspired many African leaders, promoting liberation and socio-economic growth for generations.
The President of NAHEOG was speaking at the sixth graduation ceremony for forklift and mobile crane operators in Accra, under the theme, “Ripples of Education Investment in Ghana across Africa.”
The ceremony marked the graduation of 27 trainees from the forklift operations program and another 27 from the mobile crane operations program, including four female graduates.
The program is a collaboration between the Regional Maritime University (RMU) and the NAHEOG.
Mr. Eyiah said Ghana stood as a beacon of educational excellence, attracting students from across Africa, particularly from neighbouring countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast, who were enrolling in its universities.
“In 2020, over 5,000 students from across the continent studied in Ghana, owing to the country’s political stability, affordable tuition, and quality education being major factors in this trend with the RMU as a perfect example,” he said.
The President of NAHEOG added that Ghana’s education policies had also contributed to the growth of cross-border educational exchanges.
He said initiatives like the African Union’s “Harmonisation of Higher Education” aimed to facilitate the recognition of degrees across Africa, making Ghanaian Universities even more attractive to international students.
Mr. Eyiah called on Ghanaians to embrace the responsibility to contribute to the development of Africa, knowing that the education received in Ghana had equipped them with the tools to make a meaningful impact.
Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jnr, Acting Vice Chancellor, RMU, said captured the profound impact that education could have, not only on individuals but also on societies and nations across the continent.
He said education was a powerful investment for any society, and in Ghana and other RMU member states, significant progress had been made in prioritising technical and vocational education, leading to positive outcomes for both the nation and the broader African continent.
The Acting Vice Chancellor said the program empowered individuals to enter vital industries such as construction, logistics, oil and gas, and shipping, sectors that were critical for Ghana’s development and Africa’s economic integration.
Dr. Brooks Jnr said the education provided in the RMU had the potential to uplift communities, enhance industries, and inspire development across Africa.
He said the RMU remained committed to expanding the scope and quality of programmes to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Brooks Jnr said this commitment was driven by the belief that education was not merely about acquiring knowledge but about creating opportunities and fostering change.
“As we reflect on the ripples of educational investment, I call on industry leaders, government agencies, and international partners to join hands with us,” he stressed.
The Acting Vice Chancellor said the RMU was poised to partner with the incoming government to deliver on the promised apprenticeship programs that were so vital for empowering youth and enhancing the workforce to create pathways for skills development.
Dr. Brooks Jnr congratulated the graduates for their dedication, resilience, and remarkable achievements, bringing them this far.
GNA