According to the founder and president of Design and Technology Institute (DTI), Ms. Constance Swaniker, integrating, elevating, and formalizing the informal sector is necessary for national progress. She said the solutions being sought must be bottom-up, culturally relevant, and practically grounded.
She was speaking at the 2025 Job and Opportunities Fair in Accra. The two-day event was on the theme:“The Career Expedition: Pathways, Partnerships, Possibilities –A Mindset Journey towards Self-discovery.”
she went on to say, “We cannot talk about jobs without talking about entrepreneurship, and not every young person will be employed by a company. However, every young person can be empowered to solve problems, start ventures, and build livelihoods.”
She commended the continue collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, whose unwavering commitment to systems change and youth employment had helped shape the narrative.
Ms. Constance further stated that there was a critical global shortage of skilled welders, despite the fact that the demand for skilled welders, one of their flagship training areas, was estimated to exceed 450,000 globally over the course of the next decade, particularly in the construction, automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors.
She continued, “This is the kind of opportunity for which our students are being trained: not only to serve local needs but also to plug into international value chains.” She stated that in the midst of this disruption lay an excellent opportunity to rethink how to prepare youth for an uncertain future.
The President stated that practical skills opened doors and provided livelihood opportunities in a world where degrees alone were no longer sufficient.
“Equip yourself to meet its requirements rather than waiting for the job market to find you. Choose a path that not only meets your passion but also meets demand,” she added. She stated that the future would belong to those who were skilled, adaptable, and prepared to lead, and that they needed to be intentional and prepared.
She said with the Foundation’s support, DTI was building pathways to dignified and fulfilling work across Ghana and the continent.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, said skills were not a consolation prize; they were tools for self-discovery and part of Ghana’s golden ticket to sustainable development and global competitiveness.
He said this was where institutions like the DTI shine as beacons of transformation.
“I know that since 2016, DTI has relentlessly worked to redefine TVET across Ghana and the continent contributing to the creation of over 30,000 job opportunities catalysed through industry-relevant training,” he added.
The Minister said DTI’s partnership with MasterCard Foundation, focusing on equipping young women and vulnerable groups with essential hard and soft skills, coupled with an entrepreneurial mindset, exemplified the targeted, impactful interventions we need.
He said stakeholders must deliberately replicate such collaborations in other sectors including agriculture, digital technology, creatives, and the green economy to expand opportunities for all.
Source: myghanadaily
