President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghana’s technical universities to emulate the German model of competence-based technical education as part of efforts to transform the country’s higher education system into a driver of industrialisation and job creation.
Addressing the 4th Biennial Applied Research Conference of Technical Universities in Takoradi on Tuesday, President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s universities must move beyond theory-driven instruction and embrace practical, industry-oriented training that equips students with employable and entrepreneurial skills.
According to him, the future of Ghana’s economic transformation depends heavily on institutions that can bridge the gap between academia and industry through applied science, engineering, and technology.
“You must focus on hands-on, competence-based technical and vocational training aligned with the German model,” the President emphasised.
He explained that the German approach, which integrates classroom instruction with industrial attachment and practical problem-solving, offers Ghana a viable pathway to reducing graduate unemployment and building a skilled workforce capable of driving industrial growth.
The President noted that technical universities must position themselves as the engine of Ghana’s knowledge-based economy by prioritising practical innovation, research commercialisation, and strong collaboration with industry.
As part of government’s commitment to strengthening technical education, President Mahama announced that each of the ten public technical universities would receive GHS10 million under the 2027 national budget to improve infrastructure, laboratories, and training equipment.
The investment, he indicated, is intended to help the institutions fulfil the mandate envisioned when polytechnics were converted into technical universities about a decade ago.
He further disclosed plans to establish two new technical universities at Jasikan in the Oti Region and Techiman in the Bono East Region, alongside a new University of Science and Technology in the Savannah Region.
The expansion, according to him, is aimed at increasing access to science and technology-based higher education, particularly in underserved parts of the country.
President Mahama also announced plans for the establishment of a national TVET Fund to support science-based and technical education across Ghana.
“The new universities will be the bridge between the world of science and industry. They will forge a symbiotic relationship with industry by utilising industrial resources for innovation and technological advancement,” he stated.
Touching on youth unemployment, the President argued that technical universities remain central to reversing the trend by producing graduates with industry-relevant competencies rather than purely academic qualifications.
He stressed that the national focus must shift from producing job seekers to nurturing job creators capable of establishing enterprises and supporting Ghana’s industrial transformation agenda.
President Mahama also referenced previous government investments in engineering education, including the provision of advanced laboratories and training equipment worth $5 million each for the Takoradi and Kumasi technical university campuses.
The facilities, he noted, support specialised training in electronics, advanced manufacturing, solar energy, and wind technology, all of which are critical to Ghana’s future industrial competitiveness.
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