In furtherance of that objective, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the upgrading and modernisation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system recently, to position TVET at the centre of development policy.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said this at the 39th edition of the Annual Technology and Agricultural Exhibition of the Kristo Asafo Mission, in Accra, at the weekend.

He said government was determined to make technical and vocational education a major component of the educational curriculum and has adopted a multi-pronged approach towards revolutionising TVET.

"The first component of the President's TVET project comprised upgrading of some 35 National and Vocational Training Institutes as well as Colleges of Education that specialise in technology; refurbishing the existing infrastructure and construction of new Head office, 10 regional offices and five apprenticeship offices; and procurement of equipment for 26 trades and ICT equipment for all 34 NVTI centres.

"It also includes competency based training to cover 700 trainers across 34 NVTIs; a major revision of the curricula of TVET schools to make them relevant to the needs of Ghana's changing economy; and transport facilities, provision of a 33-seater bus for each of the 34 NVTIs and 4×4 Pickups for the head office and regional offices," Vice President Bawumia announced.

To make technical and vocational education more accessible, government in 2018 announced the inclusion of TVET in the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme, he added.

The second component, he said, comprised the setting up of two new training centres for foundry and machining workshops, with one at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) centre in Accra, and the other at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

He said all those interventions were key ingredients towards transforming the education system and industrialising the national economy in the shortest possible time.

Vice President Bawumia said there was also a US$130 million project for the construction of training workshops for five polytechnics and technical universities together with 10 technical institutes in areas of mechanical engineering, automobile engineering, civil engineering and welding engineering.

Government had also provided technical universities and polytechnics with state-of-the-art laboratories and workshop equipment to enhance practical training and learning, he stated.

Dr Bawumia lauded the remarkable achievements of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, the Founder and Leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission, especially in the areas of agriculture and technological development.

"Government alone cannot lead the way by bringing a new dimension to our educational structure and industrial transformation.

"It behoves on some individuals and corporations to contribute to the wellbeing of society by identifying the problems and offering solutions.

"This, I believe, is what Apostle Professor Engineer Kwadwo Safo and the Kristo Asafo have identified by offering practical oriented teaching and learning, as well as spearheading technology and scientific researches that will put Ghana and Africa on the path to development.

"I have been here over the years, and I am always highly impressed by what he has done so far and Government will continue to support Kantanka," Dr Bawumia said.