CIMAF Ghana, a multi-national cement manufacturing company, has bought into the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy and launched a programme to train students at the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU).

In all, some 1,200 masonry artisans are expected to be trained annually, by equipping them with modern skills in their profession, as part of the ‘Code-named Alliance for Excellence’ programme.

The programme is scheduled to run for two years, being the first phase, and then, at the end, reviewed for extension.

It is being led by the Institute of Research Innovations and Development (IRID) of KsTU and CIMAF in four regions of Ghana, namely: Ashanti, Western, Greater Accra and Eastern Region.

The programme focuses on construction areas – like block moulding, masonry, tiling, terrazzo laying, concrete and culvert making. The training is complemented with internship opportunities.

Speaking at the launch of the programme in Kumasi, Technical Director of CIMAF, Berzouki Abdelkrim, said TVET is seen as an engine of growth, and of building sustainable employment opportunities for the youth.

“We, at CIMAF, will not relent in our quest to produce more professionals for the construction industry, hence, we urge beneficiaries to take this opportunity seriously,” he said.

The training, he said, seeks to boost the skills of artisans with formal training on the proper application of materials for maximum benefit to the construction industry.

He said CIMAF is happy to partner KsTU to run the programme that seeks to train an average of 1,200 artisans annually, with modern techniques for the construction industry.

The Vice-Chancellor of KsTU, Ing. Prof. Nana Owusu-Achiaw, said the mandate of the technical universities, among other things, is to train students “to acquire skills to work in the industry, and anchor the operations of the industries”.

As such, he noted that KsTU has always been exploring opportunities to collaborate with the industry to enable the university to execute its mandate.

Among others, he said the collaboration will enable the university to bring artisans from the community to train and help them acquire the know-how to produce and use cement products.

The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of TVET, Gifty Twum Ampofo, said the 21^st century currency is about how a nation equips its citizens with skills, which will enable them to acquire relevant handy skills to eke out a living.

She urged the artisans to strategically position themselves so that their work would be appreciable to also make a living for themselves and their families.

“Please do not take the CIMAF programme for granted. If you do not upgrade yourself, you will be left behind,” she added.

“The construction industry has gone past the brick-and-mortar era,” the deputy minister said, while imploring the artisans that it is important to have the skills despite their educational backgrounds.

Students at the launching of the programme, in Kumasi. Inset: Technical Director of CIMAF, Mr. Abdelkrim