A UK based Christian Charity Organization-Wood World Missions has commissioned a Technical and Vocational training School at Mateheko,a suburb of Akosombo.
The TVET institution is envisioned to bring modernization in technical and vocational education in Ghana to provide the needed skill sets for the youth for the emerging industrial market.
In her address during the commissioning of the school on Saturday July 22,2023, Co-founder of Wood World Missions and Power Center Church Archbishop Mrs. Mercy Wood, a Ghanaian, said she was inspired to construct schools for the poor after she was denied admission into vocational school decades ago in Ghana which nearly impaired her life.
She explained that the Wood World Missions now has two schools in Ghana Koforidua Asokore and Akosombo with similar schools in Malawi and other African countries to help the poor and vulnerable access to quality education and skills training.
Archbishop Mrs.Mercy Wood acknowledged support of donors in UK who made the project come into fruition.
She however appealed that, the institution needs equipment such as industrial machines and electrical tools for practical training.
Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman in Ghana, Hon.Thomas Ampem Nyarko commended the Church for concentrating on skills development as part of its missions work.
“I commended Founders of Wood World Missions Archbishop William Wood and wife Archbishop Mrs .Mercy Wood for establishing the school in the constituency with very affordable fee structure”.
He said the early missionaries concentrated on grammer education in Ghana ostensibly to churn out students who can only read, write and understand them with little focus on skills training.
According to the Ghanaian lawmaker, technical, Vocational training and Education (TVET) is the hope and the only way to fix the high unemployment rate in country.
‘’TVET is the hope of this country .If we truly want to reduce unemployment and create jobs for our people then we must take Technical and Vocational education to a different level .We must show even more commitment to this aspect of our education because those who are equipped with these skills will not be looking forward for somebody to employ them but they will employ themselves and employ others reducing unemployment in this country”. Thomas Ampem Nyarko stated.
The MP stated further that , the vision of the Wood World Vocational and Technical Institute aligns with his vision for the youth in the constituency which gave birth to the “Thomas Ampem Nyarko Skill Development and Youth Empowerment Program (TANSDYEP)” established in 2017 since becoming MP to provide skills training and startups for the youth particularly those from vulnerable homes.
He therefore announced that beginning next academic year, first batch of eight (8) beneficiaries will be enrolled in Wood World Missions Technical and Vocational Institute established by the charity organization at Combine community, a suburb of Akosombo.
The MP made financial pledge of Ghc10,000 equivalent to £673 pounds to support the school.
Headmaster of Akosombo Academy comparising the Technical and Vocational Institute, and Basic School Cornilius Ganah appealed to government to extend support to the school through the Ghana Skills Development Fund to enable the institution train more youth in various Technical and vocational skills.
Wood World Missions Technical and vocational Institute is currently being considered to be accredited at TVET center for the entire Asuogyaman District to end students traveling to Koforidua for their final exams for certification.
Wood World mission has established schools in Ghana(2 schools) , Uganda, Malawi (8 schools), Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, and other countries.
The construction of the Vocational and Technical Institute at Akosombo attracted many celebrities in UK who were supporting the project to visit the area .
They include Stephanie Victoria Allen, better known by her stage name Stefflon Don, a British rapper, singer, and songwriter, alongside 2019 BET International Global Good Award winner Chakabars Clarke and Fuse ODG .
Source:Mybrytfomonline.com/Obed Ansah
