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UNICEF, Govt study uncovers skills mismatch in TVET sector
A NEW study by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ghana in partnership with the Government of Ghana has uncovered a significant mismatch between the skills taught in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and those required by employers.
Conducted in the Ashanti Region, the research assessed public and private TVET schools and compared their training programmes with the demands of industries such as agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), manufacturing, and construction.
The findings revealed that while some trades were oversupplied, critical sectors face severe shortages.
In agriculture, the region’s dominant sector, only one out of 57 pre-tertiary TVET institutions offers relevant training, despite high demand for agro-processing skills.
ICT, a fast-growing field, is offered in just four schools. By contrast, fashion design and garment-making dominate curricula, creating an oversupply of graduates, while areas like green technology and advanced Information Technology (IT) remain underrepresented.
The study also found a ‘perception gap’ between employers and graduates.
Employers complained of weak practical exposure and poor soft skills, while many graduates felt they were adequately prepared for work.
Free TVET education has boosted enrollment, but limited facilities and equipment were overstretching schools and undermining Competency-Based Training (CBT).
Private institutions recorded higher CBT accreditation than public ones, though both struggle with resources.
According to the research, employers also reported difficulties finding job-ready candidates with practical experience.
UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Dr Tillman Guenther, noted that Ghana’s youthful population offers a potential demographic dividend that could drive economic growth.
However, this opportunity is threatened by unemployment and job insecurity.
“Increasing investment in TVET and tailoring training to market demands are critical if Ghana is to equip its young people with the skills needed for meaningful employment,” Dr Guenther said.
He called for collective action by government, private sector, and development partners to ensure TVET becomes a true driver of sustainable growth.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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