One hundred and one (101) learners have graduated from University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies (UCAES) at Bunso. Their graduation came after a 10-week competency-based training in oil palm.
Solidaridad, an international civil society organization initiated the training programme. The training falls under the Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training (ATVET) initiative of the Government. This first batch of learners came from 146 oil palm-growing communities and enterprises. Specifically, regions of the learners included the Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Western, Western North, Oti and Volta regions.
Being the first of its kind, the programme seeks to build the skills of the youth for employment and entrepreneurship in the oil palm sector. The programme is under the accreditation of the Council for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Swiss Government, through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the German Development Agency (GIZ) are funding the training. Five educational institutions accredited by COTVET are running the training to provide support in six modules. Specifically, Nursery Establishment, Land Preparation and Plantation Establishment, Harvesting, Farm Management, Processing and Quality Assurance, and Agribusiness Management.
The Acting Rector of UCAES, Dr Charles Brempong-Yeboah commended Solidaridad and its funding partners for rolling out the programme. He said the learners went through instruction and internship training during their study. He, however, appealed for the installation of more greenhouses on the campuses. Certainly, to aid the teaching and learning for the next batch of students.
Solidaridad & Other Partners’ Commitment
The Regional Director of Solidaridad, Mr Isaac Gyamfi said the organization developed the training in partnership with Ghana Skills Development Initiative. This is under the Sustainable West Africa Palm Oil Programme (SWAPP II), second phase implementation. He intimated that it fitted with Solidaridad’s Theory of Change. He said efficiency in supply chains could only be achieved if the actors had the skillset to capitalize on opportunities.
Consequently, Mr Gyamfi added that the right investment had to be made to create agri-entrepreneurs and value-addition businesses. In addition, to support farm workers to develop their skills aside their technical know-how. This is crucial for the sustainability and improvement in Ghana’s oil palm sector to increase productivity. In turn, Ghana could compete with leading producers like Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Solidaridad’s work does not end when the learners receive their certificates. This is because the end game for us is to enable learners to find jobs in the oil palm sector as workers or entrepreneurs to contribute to their sustainable growth.”
The Dutch Ambassador, Mr Ron Strikker commended the youth for embracing agriculture for sustenance. He reiterated the importance of technical and vocational education to the development of the economy. He said the Dutch and Swiss governments had jointly supported Ghana’s oil palm development through the SWAPP II because they recognized the value of vocational and technical education.
The Head of Programme for Sustainable Economic Development at GIZ Ghana, Mr Detlev Axel Jahn, said through the establishment of the Ghana Skills Development Initiative, the German Development Cooperation seeks to introduce competency-based training standards and collaborative training models, which combined workplace and school-based training modules to selected TVET institutions in Ghana. This will provide demand-driven training to job-seeking youth, apprentices and trade persons. In effect, build a confident and job-ready workforce in the job market.
