Ghana's Technical Universities Call for Dedicated Funding to Drive Industrial Transformation

The Chairman of the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana, Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, has called for urgent and sustainable investment in Technical Universities to address persistent infrastructure and funding deficits affecting the sector. He's emphasizing that these deficits must be addressed to ensure the sector's growth.

Ing. Prof. Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, who's also the Vice Chancellor of Sunyani Technical University, made this call at the 4th Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities in Ghana held at the Takoradi Technical University in the Western Region. He noted that the conversion of polytechnics to Technical Universities wasn't matched with the corresponding investments needed to fully support their transformation into modern Technical Universities. This lack of investment has hindered the sector's development.

The conference, which brought together academia, industry players, and policymakers, was held under the theme: “Advancing TVET for Innovation, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development.” President John Mahama, who opened the conference, emphasized the importance of practical and solution-oriented research in driving Ghana’s industrialization agenda. He announced a 10 million cedi support fund for Technical Universities and additional support for doctoral training and applied research. This funding will help support the sector's growth.

President Mahama also disclosed plans to establish a Savannah University of Science and Technology in Damango, as well as two new Technical Universities in Jasikan and Techiman. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu appealed for increased investment in technical education to ensure sustainable financing for the sector. He proposed that 10 percent of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, GETFund, be allocated to Technical Universities to support infrastructure development and skills training. This allocation will help provide the necessary resources for the sector.

The Minister further called for 2.5 percent of Ghana’s oil revenue to be dedicated to technical education to guarantee long-term funding for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. According to him, sustainable financing remains critical if Ghana is to build a skilled workforce capable of driving industrial growth and competing in the global economy. Ghana can't afford to neglect its technical education sector.

“We, the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana, continue to support the establishment of the Technical Universities Transformation Support Fund to provide the necessary support to address these outstanding gaps,” said Ing. Prof. Adinkrah-Appiah.

He's stressing that this fund is essential for the sector's development.

Several critical investments remain outstanding, including modern laboratories and workshops, equipment installations, digital infrastructure, staff development, research funding, industrial training support systems, and student accommodation facilities. The establishment of the Technical Universities Transformation Support Fund is expected to help modernize Technical Universities and strengthen Ghana’s private sector by improving graduate employability, promoting self-employment, supporting industrial growth, and reducing youth unemployment. This won't be easy, but it's necessary.

Ghana's Technical Universities have a crucial role to play in driving the country's industrial transformation. With the right investment and support, they can provide the skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth and development. The call for dedicated funding by the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana is a step in the right direction, and it's hoped that the government will take heed and provide the necessary support. They shouldn't ignore this call.

The future of Ghana's Technical Universities looks promising, with the government's commitment to investing in technical education. However, it's crucial that the investments are sustainable and targeted at addressing the specific needs of the sector. With the right support, Ghana's Technical Universities can play a vital role in driving the country's industrial transformation and economic development. They can't do it alone, though.

In the coming months, it's expected that the government will take concrete steps to address the infrastructure and funding deficits affecting Technical Universities. This will involve working closely with the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana and other stakeholders to identify the key areas that require investment and support. They'll need to prioritize their efforts.

As Ghana continues to drive its industrial transformation, the role of Technical Universities will become increasingly important. It's hoped that the government will prioritize the development of these institutions and provide them with the necessary resources and support to succeed. They won't succeed without it.

Ghana's technical education sector has the potential to drive economic growth and development, but it requires sustained investment and support. The call for dedicated funding by the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana is a timely reminder of the need for the government to prioritize technical education and provide the necessary resources to support the sector. It's a reminder they shouldn't ignore.

The call for dedicated funding by the Vice Chancellors of Technical Universities Ghana is a critical step in driving Ghana's industrial transformation. It's hoped that the government will take heed and provide the necessary support to address the infrastructure and funding deficits affecting the sector. They're counting on the government to take action.

The information provided doesn't have a Nigerian connection, so there's no need to include that in the article. It's not relevant to the topic at hand. They're focusing on Ghana's technical education sector.