The community-focused non-governmental organisation, says the centre, when established would equip vulnerable young people in Northern Ghana with employable and entrepreneurial skills.

The proposed CENSODEV-Kaizen Multi-Disciplinary TVET Centre is aimed at empowering young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with practical, competency-based skills to improve their livelihoods, promote self-reliance and contribute to socio-economic development.

The Centre is expected to target young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years, as well as young adults aged 18 to 35 years, with a special focus on women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

The initiative forms part of CENSODEV’s broader efforts to strengthen community resilience through livelihood empowerment, capacity building and employment creation across Northern Ghana.

The proposal indicates that the Centre will initially serve five districts in the Upper East Region before expanding its services to the Northern, North East, Upper West, Savannah and Bono Regions, using both on-site training and community outreach programmes.

Mr Braimah Sanjage, the Executive Director of CENSODEV, who disclosed to the Ghana News Agency, said a key feature of the proposed institution is the integration of the Japanese Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement into TVET delivery.

The approach is expected to instil discipline, innovation, efficiency and quality management practices among trainees while equipping them with practical skills required by industry and the labour market.

He said the Centre plans to offer short, intensive and competency-based training programmes in modern agriculture and agribusiness, agricultural mechanisation, welding, electrical installation, solar technology, plumbing, bricklaying, woodwork, ICT, digital and financial literacy, as well as entrepreneurship and business development.

Mr Sanjage said the curriculum would place particular emphasis on agricultural skills to support the largely agrarian economy of Northern Ghana while encouraging young people to establish sustainable businesses and create employment opportunities.

To ensure quality delivery, he said, the organisation intends to collaborate with key institutions including the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Education Service TVET Unit, the Rural Technology Facility, the University of Technology and Allied Sciences in Navrongo, the Navrongo Health Research Centre, local artisans, the business community and traditional authorities.

The partnerships are expected to support curriculum development, provide technical expertise, facilitate practical training opportunities and enhance community mobilisation for youth enrolment.

The Executive Director indicated that the Centre will also draw on the expertise of experienced active and retired professionals from various technical fields, including agriculture, to mentor trainees and bridge the gap between classroom instruction and industry practice.

Mr Sanjage said a proposal for the establishment of the Centre was currently under consideration by the Japan Embassy’s Grassroots Human Security Project (GGHSP), adding that officials of the project had already conducted due diligence on the proposal and were awaiting the outcome of the approval process.

Mr Sanjage appealed to young people in the region to remain hopeful and prepare to take advantage of the opportunities the Centre would offer when established.

He expressed the hope that the facility would become a centre of excellence for technical and vocational training in Northern Ghana and contribute significantly to reducing youth unemployment and poverty through skills development and entrepreneurship.