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GOVERNMENT INVESTS GH¢7.5 MILLION IN OTAAKROM TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TO BOOST TVET EDUCATION
By:Hon Justice Baffour-managing editor/Dailywatchgh/0246930931
The government’s commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana received a major boost in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region following the sod-cutting ceremony for a major infrastructure expansion project at Otaakrom Technical Institute (OTI).
The District Chief Executive for the Atwima Mponua District Assembly, Mr. Issahak Ibrahim, officially cut the sod for the commencement of the GH¢7.5 million project aimed at expanding and retooling the institution to enhance technical and vocational training in the district.
The project, being executed by FAPIM Construction Limited, forms part of the government’s broader agenda to modernize TVET institutions across the country and equip young people with employable skills for national development.
The new facility will include a modern administration block, classrooms, workshops, dormitories, and the provision of state-of-the-art tools and equipment to support effective teaching and practical training.
Addressing dignitaries, school authorities, students, and residents during the groundbreaking ceremony held at the school premises, Mr. Issahak Ibrahim described the project as a transformational intervention that would improve the quality of technical education in the area.
He commended the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Investment Fund (SIF), Lawyer Abass Nurudeen, and the management of Otaakrom Technical Institute for their efforts in ensuring the school was selected as one of four beneficiary institutions nationwide under the TVET infrastructure improvement programme.
The DCE also encouraged students to remain disciplined and focused on their academic and technical training, stressing that hard work remains the foundation for success in life.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the Chief Executive Officer of the Social Investment Fund, Lawyer Abass Nurudeen, disclosed that the project forms part of the 28.5 million US dollar Post-COVID-19 Skills Development and Productivity Enhancement Programme.
According to him, the initiative is being funded by the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development to improve infrastructure in selected TVET institutions across the country.
Lawyer Nurudeen underscored the critical role of TVET education in addressing youth unemployment and promoting economic growth, noting that modern economies depend heavily on skilled and technically competent human resources.
He explained that the programme seeks to equip students with practical and employable skills to enable them to compete effectively in both local and international job markets upon graduation.
“The era where TVET institutions were neglected is gradually becoming a thing of the past,” he stated, expressing confidence that the new facilities would improve students’ morale and make technical education more attractive to young people.
The SIF CEO further praised the chiefs and people of the area for releasing land to support the successful implementation of the project.
The Headmaster of Otaakrom Technical Institute, Mr. Samuel Akrasi, expressed appreciation to the government, the Social Investment Fund, and the District Assembly for the intervention.
He assured stakeholders of the school’s full cooperation with the contractor to ensure timely completion of the project.
Mr. Akrasi also appealed to the contractor to provide opportunities for students in masonry and carpentry to participate in aspects of the construction work as part of their practical training and skills development.
The project is expected to significantly improve teaching and learning conditions at the institution while positioning Otaakrom Technical Institute as a leading centre for technical and vocational education in the Ashanti Region.
