Ghana’s representative, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Minister for Labor, Jobs, and Employment, in a working visit to Germany, engaged BFW (Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW), a German-based organization, for a stronger partnership aimed at combatting youth unemployment in the country.
The Minister for Labor, Jobs, and Employment reaffirmed the government’s resolve to tackle youth unemployment through strong international collaborations and partnerships, such as BFW (Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW).
Dr. Bernd Garstka, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the German-based organization BFW (Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW), presented a commemorative plaque to Dr. Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Ghana’s Minister for Labor, Jobs, and Employment, in recognition of Ghana’s steadfast collaboration with BFW and its partners.
“The plaque symbolized the deepening cooperation between Ghana and Germany under a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in July 2025 between the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment (MoLJE), BFW, the Dominion Leaders Foundation (DLF), and RETOG.”
Minister for Labor, Jobs and Employment
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ghana through the ministry and its international partners “aims to drastically reduce youth unemployment in Ghana through the innovative ROCET Project, which blends skills development, job creation, and technology transfer.”
The Recruitment and Overseas Career Enhancement Training (ROCET) Project is a Ghana-Germany employment initiative led by Ghana’s Ministry of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, in partnership with BFW, Dominion Leaders Foundation (DLF), and RETOG, aimed at training and employing young Ghanaians in Germany.
It is a strategic employment and skills development program designed to combat youth unemployment in Ghana and was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July 2025 between Ghana and Germany.
It is intended to equip young Ghanaians with vocational skills and employment opportunities in Germany and is structured such that each year, 30 qualified Ghanaians aged 18–30 will be selected for a three-year training and employment program in Germany. It is noted that the first cohort begins in 2026.
The labor minister emphasized the importance of his visit, noting that it reflects the government’s commitment to collaborating with its partners in order to tackle youth unemployment.
“This visit underscores our government’s commitment to forging strong international partnerships to solve the pressing challenge of youth unemployment.
“The ROCET project, powered by this collaboration, represents a beacon of hope for our young people. I am particularly excited by the new projects, which will provide immediate skills upgrades and create clear pathways to employment.”
Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, Ghana’s Minister for Labor, Jobs and Employment
The working visit, held at BFW’s Kerpen Training Facility, provided an opportunity for Dr. Pelpuo and his delegation to assess ongoing collaboration and explore new dimensions of the partnership.
The minister also expressed strong interest in three emerging initiatives focused on job creation and skills enhancement for Ghanaian youth. These include short-term professional courses and specialized training programs for construction experts to be conducted at BFW’s world-class technical centers in Germany.
The engagement involved the minister’s entourage, including Mr. Eric Kofi Adzroe, Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service; Madam Dolley Alice Akorfa, Director of HR, Ghana TVET Service; Mrs. Lutufia Nuhu, Head of Research and Office Manager at MoLJE; and the German partners, Dipl.-Ing. Ulrich Goos, Head of the TVET Center Kerpen, and Dr. Askim Bozkurt, Head of International Projects, BFW.
Mr. Adzroe, Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, praised the partnership as a model of effective international cooperation.
“The alignment between BFW’s world-class technical expertise and the strategic objectives of Ghana TVET Service is exceptional. By integrating German dual training models with our national curriculum, we are not just creating job seekers; we are empowering a new generation of job creators.”
Mr. Eric Kofi Adzroe, Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service
Dr. Bernd Garstka, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the German-based organization BFW, lauded the Minister’s hands-on approach and leadership, noting that his commitment has accelerated the operationalization of the MOU signed in July this year.
“We are not just signatories to an agreement; we are active partners in progress. Dr. Pelpuo’s vision for a skilled Ghanaian workforce aligns perfectly with our mission to promote vocational excellence and sustainable employment.”
Dr. Bernd Garstka, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the German-based organization BFW
The ministers assured the ministry’s resolve to continue partnerships with its international counterparts to fast-track the implementation of ROCET and related capacity-building initiatives aimed at producing a skilled, employable, and globally competitive Ghanaian workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the labor market.
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