The German Federal President, accompanied by an economic delegation, has initiated the construction of a new Centre of Excellence for Green Technologies at Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI) in Ghana. The ceremony marks a step in Germany’s ongoing support for vocational training and sustainable development in the country. The project is financed by KfW on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with additional funding from the Ghanaian government.
During his visit to Kumasi, located in Ghana's Ashanti region, President Steinmeier visited training classes at KTI and spoke with participants involved in recycling and German language courses supported by GIZ. The new centre aims to provide high-quality training opportunities in fields important for a green economy, such as mechanics, sanitary engineering, refrigeration and air conditioning technologies, electrical installation, electrical engineering, electronics, and photovoltaics.
The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) is responsible for implementing the project. KfW is providing EUR 5 million towards its development, while the Ghanaian government contributes an additional EUR 0.6 million.
At the groundbreaking event, the regional minister of Ashanti highlighted how this initiative supports Ghana's climate action and sustainability objectives. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts between Ghana and Germany in advancing vocational education focused on innovation and environmental protection.
The Centre of Excellence builds on previous initiatives like the Ghana TVET Voucher Project. This program provides education vouchers to facilitate practice-oriented training across ten occupational fields nationwide. Since its inception in 2017, about 39,000 individuals have benefited from these vouchers. Currently, women make up 74% of participants; there is also targeted support for people with disabilities.
“With the Centre of Excellence for Green Technologies at KTI and the Ghana TVET Voucher Project, KfW and its Ghanaian partners are sending a strong signal for sustainable development and vocational training in Ghana – thereby making an important contribution to strengthening the economic prospects of young people and promoting a green future,” according to project representatives.