The Head of the Agricultural Education Department at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Joseph Kobina Essibu, has called for major reforms in Ghana’s education system to prioritise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). He said skills development is now essential for building a workforce capable of driving Ghana’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the “Partnership for Impacts” youth leadership summit in Accra, Dr Essibu noted that many young people remain unemployed because their skills do not match industry demands. He stressed that Ghana has resources and potential, but lacks the skilled human capital needed to convert them into productive value.
He further advocated for competency-based learning, practical assessments, curriculum reforms and stronger quality assurance systems to ensure graduates are job-ready and globally competitive. According to him, agriculture and other vocational fields must be repositioned as profitable and modern career paths rather than “last option” choices.
Dr Essibu’s comments come amid broader national conversations on expanding STEM and TVET education to improve employability, industrial growth and innovation in Ghana.