Alfred Appiah, a respected policy analyst and advocate for youth development, has lauded the government’s National Apprenticeship Program (NAP) as a potentially transformative initiative for Ghana’s young people.
However, in a strongly worded statement, Appiah raised critical concerns about the institutional framework and implementation strategy, calling for greater formalisation, oversight, and integration with established technical and vocational education structures.
“I believe a well-managed apprenticeship program could serve as a viable alternative career pathway for young people in Ghana. That’s why the National Apprenticeship Program excites me. I also appreciate the 70% on-the-job and 30% classroom training model—it’s a solid approach”.
Alfred Appaih, a renowned Policy Analyst
Despite this initial praise, Appiah emphasised that the program’s long-term success will hinge on its structural integrity and implementation discipline.
He noted the absence of a detailed policy document outlining the NAP’s design and goals, citing the need for a clear roadmap similar to the “Adwumawura” initiative—a similar employment intervention program which offered transparent guidelines, implementation frameworks, and measurable outcomes.
In a significant critique, Appiah questioned the role of the National Youth Authority (NYA) as the lead implementer of the apprenticeship program.
According to him, while the NYA has a mandate for youth development, it lacks the institutional expertise and technical background necessary to oversee a robust, skills-based training regime.
“I was surprised to see the National Youth Authority running the program instead of the Ghana TVET Service, with oversight from the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).”
Alfred Appaih, a renowned Policy Analyst
Ghana TVET Service and CTVET to lead NAP
He argued that the NYA should not lead curriculum development or training delivery. Appiah advocated instead for a more structured and technically grounded approach, suggesting that the Ghana TVET Service and CTVET be given oversight responsibility, with technical universities delivering the classroom training component.
“Certification should come from recognized institutions. We need to reach a point where practicing certain trades requires formal certification.”
Ghana TVET Service and CTVET
His comments reflect broader concerns within Ghana’s policy community regarding the fragmentation of technical and vocational education and the limited integration between training institutions and labor market requirements.
The analyst stressed the need to bridge this gap, pointing out that professionalizing trade skills would improve both the quality of services rendered and the long-term employability of young workers.
Beyond institutional oversight, Appiah called for the formalisation of working conditions for apprentices.
He proposed setting a minimum wage for apprentices based on the trade they are being trained in.
Such a system, he argued, should be jointly funded by the National Apprenticeship Program and participating employers to ensure fairness and sustainability.
“On-the-job training should happen with recognized employers,” he noted, suggesting that this would prevent the exploitation of apprentices and encourage accountability from master craftspersons.
He further recommended the establishment of a national regulatory board—possibly under CTVET—to standardize apprenticeship training and enforce quality benchmarks.
Such a body would ensure that training delivery aligns with national skills development objectives and adheres to agreed standards of excellence.
A crucial element in Appiah’s proposed reforms is the development of a strong performance measurement framework to assess the effectiveness of the program.
This, he suggested, should include long-term tracking mechanisms to determine how many trainees secure employment or become self-employed after completing the program.
“We need to track the percentage of trainees employed X number of years after completion,” Appiah insisted, highlighting the need for data-driven policymaking in assessing the return on investment in youth apprenticeship.
His comments coincide with the Ghanaian government’s exploration of various options to address the issue of youth unemployment and close the technical skills gap in the nation.
Although the NAP has been hailed as a positive step, Appiah’s intervention serves as a timely reminder that the program may not meet its lofty objectives in the absence of appropriate structure, distinct lines of accountability, and a performance-based orientation.
There is an increasing demand for social intervention programs to be implemented with more seriousness, as evidenced by the calls for better oversight, official certification, wage protections, and post-training employment tracking.
It is anticipated that these suggestions will be implemented as the government works to implement the NAP across the country in order to guarantee long-term effects.
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