By: Juliet Mettle-Edmonds
Ghana and Japan have launched a joint skills development program aimed at equipping young people with specialized technical skills in the automotive industry while expanding their access to international employment opportunities.
The initiative will provide participants with six months of intensive automotive training, after which they will earn a Level three Automobile Mechanic Certification.
The program is designed to strengthen the technical capacity of Ghanaian youth, enhance their employability, and create pathways for skilled professionals to work in global automotive markets, including Japan. Through a combination of practical training and industry-focused instruction, participants will gain the competencies required to meet international standards in automobile maintenance and repair.
Participants will also undergo three months of Japanese language training with six months of intensive automotive training, after which they will earn a Level Three Automobile Mechanic Certification.
Successful participants could also access internship and employment opportunities in Japan under future labour mobility arrangements. The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment Mr. George Opare-Addo said that the project would support reskilling within Ghana’s automotive sector, which employs about 300,000 people and faces increasing demand for new competencies as the global industry shifts towards advanced and electric vehicle technologies.
‘The programme was implemented through a partnership involving the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the Ghana TVET Service, and Green Auto Factory AICHI of Japan, with support from industry partners, including Toyota’.
Mr. Opare-Addo added that evolving mobility technologies required urgent reskilling within the sector to prevent job losses and encouraged young people to embrace technical and vocational careers, stressing that practical skills could offer sustainable livelihoods.
The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, said the initiative demonstrated Japan’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s human capital development.
“Today’s event marks an important step forward in strengthening Ghana’s human resources, which is one of the foundations for sustainable development,” he said, adding that the project would bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements by providing practical, industry-relevant training.
The Ghana–Japan Auto Connect under the Green Auto Factory Africa (GAFA) project, forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen youth skills development and reduce unemployment.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com