From Streets to Skills: Vocational Training Changing Lives

By TT

Kumasi, Ghana — At 8:00 a.m. sharp, 19-year-old Emmanuel Mensah is already at his sewing machine. The rhythmic buzz of needles fills the training center where he’s learning fashion design. Just two years ago, he was hawking chewing gum at a traffic light.

“I didn’t finish SHS,” he says. “I thought that was the end. But learning a skill gave me another chance.”

Across Ghana, vocational and technical training programs are quietly transforming lives — particularly for young people who have fallen through the cracks of the formal education system. In a job market where degrees don’t always lead to employment, hands-on skills are offering a new path to dignity, independence, and economic mobility.

A Shift in Mindset

For decades, vocational education was seen as a last resort — something for those who “failed” traditional academics.

“People used to think it was for dropouts,” says Ms. Evelyn Aboagye, a vocational trainer in Accra. “But now, they’re realizing plumbers, electricians, tailors, and tilers are making money.”

With youth unemployment still high, the stigma around TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) is slowly fading — especially among urban youth.

The Programs Making a Difference

Ghana’s government and NGOs have ramped up vocational training programs over the past decade:

NVTI (National Vocational Training Institute) centers across the country
Ghana TVET Service, which oversees curriculum standardization and certification
Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works program
Apprenticeship models, where young people learn directly under skilled tradesmen
Private initiatives, such as Soronko Academy (tech skills) and CAMFED (for girls)

These programs cover a wide range of trades: welding, fashion, catering, cosmetology, carpentry, digital skills, and auto mechanics.

Real Stories of Transformation

Ama Serwaa, 23, was abandoned by her parents and lived on the streets of Agbogbloshie. She now runs a thriving hair braiding kiosk after a one-year beauty training program by an NGO.

“I never thought I’d own a business,” she says. “But now I have customers, I train two girls, and I’m saving to rent a shop.”

Kojo Bediako, 25, failed WASSCE twice. Today, he earns ₵2,000 a month repairing smartphones from a small booth in Sunyani. “I didn’t need a degree — I needed a skill,” he says proudly.

Barriers Still Remain

Despite the success stories, vocational training still faces major challenges:

Funding gaps: Many young people can’t afford tuition, tools, or transport.
Lack of awareness: Many don’t know where to go or how to apply.
Quality control: Some centers lack qualified trainers or modern equipment.
No clear pathway to formal employment or further education.

“There’s no structure for apprenticeships to turn into jobs,” says Mr. Kwame Adu, a master tailor in Takoradi. “We train them, then they roam again.”

A Gender Opportunity

Vocational training also offers a pathway for young women, particularly in male-dominated sectors like tiling, welding, and tech.

“I was told girls can’t do welding,” says 20-year-old Linda, who now builds window frames. “Now my work speaks louder than my gender.”

Programs like CAMFED and Don Bosco have focused specifically on empowering girls through skill acquisition.

Industry Partnerships Are Key

Some of the most effective programs are those that partner directly with employers. These programs ensure that training matches current industry needs — and often include internship placements.

“We work with construction companies,” says Juliet Owusu of a youth NGO in Ashanti. “Once trainees complete their course, they get site jobs immediately.”

Certification and Recognition

Formal certification remains a challenge. Many artisans are highly skilled but remain in the informal sector, without recognition or proof of competency.

To address this, the National TVET Qualifications Framework now allows students to climb from informal apprenticeships to recognized diplomas and even degrees over time.

“It’s like academic SHS to university — but for practical skills,” explains TVET official Samuel Dapaah.

Technology Enters the Workshop

Modern vocational centers are embracing tech — offering digital literacy, website design, and mobile app development alongside traditional trades.

Soronko Academy trains girls in coding, robotics, and digital marketing. “Technology is the new toolset,” says founder Regina Honu. “You can be a fashion designer and run an online store.”

What Needs to Be Done

Experts recommend:

Expanding financial support for tools, tuition, and transportation
Public awareness campaigns to erase stigma around vocational paths
More female inclusion in all trades
Pathways to formal jobs, funding, and mentorship
Partnerships with the private sector to tailor training for demand

Final Thought

For many young Ghanaians, the traditional classroom door has closed. But the workshop, the salon, and the construction site are open.

From sewing machines to coding keyboards, vocational training is helping young people reclaim their future — one skill at a time.

As Emmanuel threads his fabric with practiced ease, he smiles: “I used to beg for food. Now people pay for my work. That’s the power of learning a skill.”