GNCCI leads dialogue on green skills development and youth jobs

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), the Presbyterian University of Ghana (PUG), and the European Union have convened policymakers, vocational institutions, and small enterprises in Bolgatanga for a national dialogue and training programme aimed at advancing reforms in Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and strengthening green enterprise development in the Upper East Region.

The engagement forms part of the GreenGrowth Ghana Project, an initiative led by GNCCI in partnership with PUG and funded by the European Union, to promote green skills development, enterprise growth, and inclusive job creation for women and youth.

Delivering the opening address, Kabutey Caesar, National Treasurer of GNCCI, described the project as a strategic intervention designed to align skills development with Ghana’s emerging green economy. He noted that GNCCI initiated the GreenGrowth Ghana Project to bridge the gap between vocational training and industry demand, and expressed appreciation to the European Union for its support in implementation across Northern Ghana.

In her remarks, Rev. Dr. Christiana Amarchey, Facilitator and Lecturer at the Presbyterian University of Ghana, emphasised the role of academia in strengthening the TVET ecosystem. She highlighted the need to integrate innovation, research, and practical skills training to support the transition to a green circular economy, particularly for women and youth.

The first day of the programme brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Directorate of Education, the TVET Regional Office, the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, and leaders of vocational institutions. Discussions focused on aligning policy, training delivery, and enterprise development with national green growth priorities.

Participants identified key structural challenges within the TVET system, including outdated equipment, limited financing, weak industry linkages, and gaps in quality assurance. A technical session on social financing for green TVET explored blended finance models and public-private partnership structures needed to sustain investment in vocational education.

The second day focused on practical training sessions aimed at strengthening enterprise capacity within green and circular economy value chains. Participants were taken through approaches to production improvement, market positioning, and business development aligned with sustainable practices.

As part of the programme, the project team conducted field visits to selected enterprises in the Upper East Region to assess operational conditions and identify areas for targeted support. One such visit was made to Good and Goodness Enterprise, a women-led processing business engaged in roasting and processing rice, millet, maize, groundnuts, and spices into value-added products.

The assessment revealed that limited access to processing equipment, particularly roasting and grinding machines, continues to constrain production capacity. Despite these challenges, the enterprise aggregates produce from local farmers—especially women and youth—while also providing training and market access.

The enterprise is also developing improved products such as millet-based koko powder and honey-based products to meet evolving market demand. Project assessments suggest that targeted equipment support would significantly improve productivity and strengthen local value chain linkages.

The project team emphasised that financial support under the grant window will be tied to clearly defined use cases, formal agreements, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability.

Participants stressed that Ghana’s transition to a green economy requires coordinated action among government, TVET institutions, the private sector, and development partners. Regional engagements, training programmes, and targeted financing support will continue as the project advances into Phase III.

The GreenGrowth Ghana Project is an EU-funded initiative implemented by GNCCI in partnership with the Presbyterian University of Ghana. Launched in October 2024, it promotes economic empowerment for women and youth in green and circular economy sectors, including sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, waste management, and circular production.

The project aims to directly support 1,000 women and youth and indirectly reach about two million people across multiple regions through policy dialogue, skills development, enterprise incubation, and innovative financing mechanisms.