All is set for Ghana to join 81 other countries around the globe in a historic debut at the 45th WorldSkills Expo to be staged in Kazan, Russia.

This comes at the back of a successful first Zonal and National Skill competition organized by the Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) and the Ministry of Education in 2018 as part of the application to the WorldSkills International.

The Ghanaian delegation numbering 27 and comprising of skilled youth and technical experts, will depart Accra on Monday, August 19, 2019, to Kazan. They are expected to return home on August 29, 2019.

Team Ghana is expected to be led by the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo.

Also among the delegation are the Executive Director of COTVET, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah and Board Chair of COTVET, Mr. Francis Awua-Kyeremmaten.

Dr. Asamoah is Official Delegates (OD) of Team Ghana who will represent the country in the Strategy Committee meetings and the General Assembly of WorldSkills International (WSI) in Kazan.

During the expo, competitors will demonstrate the level of their vocational education and training in 56 skill areas that are grouped into six sectors namely Construction and Building Technology, Creative Arts and Fashion, Information and Communication Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology, Social and Personal Services and Transportation and Logistics.

Some of the skill areas include Architectural Stonemasonry, Bricklaying, Carpentry, Concrete Construction Work, Electrical Installations, Plumbing and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Wall and Floor Tiling, 3D Digital Game Art, Fashion Technology, Graphic Design Technology, Jewellery and Cloud Computing.

Others are Cyber Security, Print Media Technology, IT Software Solutions for Business, Construction Metal Work, Mobile Robotics, Chemical Laboratory Technology, Welding, Polymechanics Automation, Mechanical Engineering CAD and Industrial Mechanic Millwright.

The rest are Bakery, Beauty Therapy, Cooking, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Hotel Reception, Patisserie and Confectionery, Restaurant Service, Aircraft Maintenance, Autobody Repair, Automobile Technology, Car Painting, Freight Forwarding, and Heavy Vehicle Technology.

Ghana which gained the 81st membership status of WorldSkills International in June, 2019, will officially be unveiled at the WorldSkills Kazan 2019 following which they could participate in subsequent competitions and compete for honours.

During Team Ghana’s stay in Kazan, they will observe and learn of skills/trades being competed in and related activities for future National and WorldSkills competition. The Team will also observe and learn the set-up and infrastructural requirements for skills competitions as well as ascertain the human resource requirements (facilitators, organizing team members, planning committee members, competitors and other auxiliary staff for National and WorldSkills Competitions).

Additionally, Team Ghana will learn and apply the criteria and processes required to be a Skill expert during WorldSkills Competitions. They will create opportunity for networking with member countries and stakeholders in WorldSkills Competitions.

Team Ghana will further learn to build capacity and competency in organizing skills competitions that will link to transformation of TVET in the country.

Commenting on the Team Ghana’s preparedness to the event, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah “Team Ghana is well prepared to storm Kazan like it did in Kigali, Rwanda for the first time during the WorldSkills Africa competition and made the country proud. Our participation in the WorldSkills global event are part of efforts aimed at positioning technical, vocational education and training as the number one choice for career development. Our participation demonstrates how the Government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo prioritizes vocational education and training”.

Hon. Gifty Twum-Ampofo also commenting on the event said “WorldSkills Kazan 2019 promises to expose our youth to the millions of job opportunities that exist on the global market. Government remains committed to ensuring that vocational education and training are given all the needed assistance since that is the way to go as we position ourselves to becoming an industrial nation”.

WorldSkills International (WSI) is the global body which organizes skills competition to raise the profile and recognition of skilled people, and show how important skills are in achieving economic growth.