The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) is collaborating with the Design and Technology Institute (DTI) to develop a National Policy for Precision Quality (PQ) training in Ghana.

The Policy will create thousands of sustainable jobs and work opportunities for young Ghanaian women and men.

It is expected to integrate the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) accredited precision quality curriculum into the learning outcomes of senior high schools, technical universities and workshops of Master Craft persons ensuring standardisation across board.

Dr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa, Director-General of NDPC, speaking at the consultative conference, said the skills development constraints identified were the limited number of skilled industrial personnel and the mismatch to industrial needs.

The event was on the theme: “Unlocking the Skills and Competencies of Young People for Quality Jobs in Ghana and the Globalized Labour Market."

He said, "Our proposals for the medium-term will be to ensure improved skills development for industry by transforming the apprenticeship training model from a supply-driven approach to a market-demand model."

The Director-General said these would help consolidate the country’s gains in skills training and position their youth for the future of work.

Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, Chief Executive Officer, DTI, commended the Mastercard Foundation for their immense role in the implementation of the PQ programme and other stakeholders for their tremendous support in the Policy development.

She said, “we will continue to engage with all stakeholders in our collective effort to support the national agenda in addressing the skills gap challenge facing academia and industry and provide the basis for the creation of sustainable jobs for the youth through TVET programmes.”

The CEO said the Policy on PQ would also ensure that students and apprentices were assessed by PQ experts for certification, after completion of course modules, to provide the basis for hiring and inform salaries and benefits as well as promotions and career progression.

The policy will create a system that empowers the public to demand quality goods and services from artisans and other industry players to drive compliance and quality of service.

“The recognition of the importance of research on skill needs, youth employment, and development of the industry will guide and enhance PQ development in Ghana to meet industry demands at a global level,” she said.

The policy on precision quality and quality assurance will enhance the integration of young people into the workplace and equip them to meet industry standards of performance.

She said it would ensure continuous improvement, and the quality of services that meet client requirements.

“The recognition of the importance of ongoing research on skill needs, youth employment, and development of the industry will guide and enhance the precision quality development in Ghana,” she said.

The policy on precision quality and quality assurance will enhance the integration of young people into the workplace and equip them to meet industry standards of performance.

As part of the conference, participants were taken through the findings of a baseline research commissioned by DTI to help gather relevant data on the State of TVET education in Ghana.

The findings indicated that Ghana's youthful population, when fully harnessed will provide a great opportunity for the country’s labour market.

It also said promoting quality education, skills training linked to the needs of industries and entrepreneurship among the youth was fundamental to achieving sustained economic growth and decent jobs (SDG 8), no poverty (SDG1) and zero hunger (SDG2) by end of 2030.

“Harnessing Ghana’s demographic dividend provides a clear path to economic development,” the report said.

The conference forms part of a three-year Transforming youth TVET livelihoods for sustainable jobs partnership between DTI and the Mastercard Foundation, as part of the Foundations Young Africa Works strategy in Ghana.

The programme will provide 40,000 direct and indirect work opportunities for young people in the country.

She said as part of the programme, several activities had been initiated among key stakeholders to tackle issues of precision quality in service delivery in Ghana.

Ms. Swaniker said research was ongoing and the policy was being formulated to be integrated as a government agenda and part of its TVET policies.