150 Females equipped with construction skills

One hundred and fifty young women have successfully completed a six month training programme aimed at addressing the skills gap and gender specific barriers in the construction industry.

They had undertaken the programme dubbed: “Female Talents in Construction” (FTC), implemented by the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service (GTVETS), in collaboration
with the German Cooperation.

The programme involved three months of intensive training and the remaining three months of practical experience with partner companies.

The beneficiaries were provided hands-on expertise in areas such as heavy-duty machine operation, electrical and solar installations, welding and fabrication, electric
vehicle assembly and maintenance, computer hardware, networking and programming.

Rationale

At the graduation of the trainees, the Director of Ghana TVET Service, Greater Accra Region, Juliana Nkrumah, said the initiative aimed to empower individuals, particularly women, in the
construction industry.

“Both men and women are equally important in building a robust and innovative construction industry,” she said, adding that" those pursuing self-employment have been provided
with tools, equipment and training in business management, financial literacy and customer care to ensure that they can establish and grow their ventures successfully”.

She encouraged beneficiaries to put their acquired skills into practice, mentor others and create opportunities within their communities.

“By fostering entrepreneurship and employment, this initiative aims to address unemployment challenges while enhancing the construction industry,” she added.

Challenge

The head of Component, Investfor Jobs at GIZ Ghana, Eunice Agyapong, said the initiative was to challenge gender stereotypes and provide role models for young women.

“The belief that construction is a ‘man’s job’ is not only outdated but detrimental. Women bring creativity, different perspectives and problem solving skills to the table,” she said

The FTC project, she said, was built on the foundation laid by the Professionalisation of Artisans initiative launched in 2020, which trained over 2,000 individuals but
had minimal female participation. 

With the FTC project, she said they “have increased female representation significantly.

Out of 150 beneficiaries, 86 are women, and we are incredibly proud of this achievement.”

The President, Women in Engineering (WinE) Ghana, Dr Enyonam Kpekpena, underscored the underrepresentation of women in engineering, adding that only eight per cent of registered practitioners
with the GhIE were women.

She urged stakeholders to continue supporting initiatives that empowered women in construction and beyond.

She called on the graduands to overcome challenges, rely on networks and contribute meaningfully to national growth.

The graduates would receive licensing from the Ghana Institution of Engineering and a TVET certification approved by the delegation of German Industry and
Commerce in Ghana (AHK).

The certifications are designed to enhance their employment prospects both locally and internationally, providing access to a broader job
market.

The project was also supported by the Ghana Institution of Engineering, the National Service Secretariat, INZAG GmbH and others.