Despite the federation’s long-standing contributions to skills development and youth em­powerment across the country, it was neither consulted nor involved in the design or implementation of the initiative, the Chairperson of FEPTAG, Dan Jim Selassie, disclosed to The Ghanaian Times.

“This oversight does not only undermine the programme’s need­ed impact, but also militates against its effectiveness and sustainability,” he mentioned.

FEPTAG, he said, was an umbrella body of about 50 trade associations of seasoned artisans, vocational professionals, master crafts-persons and their apprentic­es nationwide who played a pivotal role in setting industry standards, safeguarding quality assurance, and development of occupational standards.

He indicated that FEPTAG also offered practical training in the informal/non-formal apprentice­ship, as well as provide Workplace Experience Learning (WEL) to students of the pre-tertiary TVET institutions – with emphasis on maintaining ethical practices across various trade areas.

In furtherance, Mr Selassie outlined that, “the programme, though well-intended, risks missing its mark without the insight, expe­rience and networks is what our Federation can provide.”

He, therefore, called on govern­ment to urgently open a dialogue with professional trade associations to ensure the programme’s inclu­sivity, well-coordinated and aligned with industry realities.

“We advocate that immediate steps are taken to integrate profes­sional trade associations into the planning and monitoring frame­work of the initiative, to guaran­tee its credibility and long-term success,” he explained.

He also mentioned some of the trade associations membership of the Federation as the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG), National Air-condition­ing and Refrigeration Workshop Owners Association (NARWOA), Ghana Union of Professional Pho­tographers (GUPP), Woodworkers Association of Ghana (WAG), and the Ghana Institution of welding (GLW), among others.