Senior Economist at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Akwasi Owusu-Mainu has insisted that Hospitality and Tourism sector is one of the major drivers of economic growth in Ghana.
According to him, it attracts foreign exchange through tourism receipts, stimulates local businesses, and contributes to the country’s economy.
He said the sector attracts both domestic and foreign investment, fostering entrepreneurship and business development.
He added that this investment inflow contributes to the overall economic development of Ghana.
He said the sector is a significant source of employment, particularly for the youth and women. It provides a wide range of job opportunities, including hotel and restaurant staff, tour guides, travel agents, artisans and support services.
He made this statement on behalf of Finance Minister during the orientation ceremony of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) under the National Training and Retraining Programme on Monday 22nd May, 2023 at the school premises.
In July 2020, Government announced the decision to establish a National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) and Training and Retraining Programme to offer income support and employment services to serve as a mitigating measure to workers who become unemployed due to unanticipated future events such as COVID-19 pandemic.
Through this programme, government is enhancing the skills of beneficiaries and ensuring that the Hospitality and Tourism Sector remains competitive and resilient in the years to come.
The National Training and Retraining Programme was officially launched by Hon. Minister for Finance in June, 2022.
The National Training and Retraining Programme is focused on skills upgrading, work ethics, productivity improvement and attitudinal change. It is focused on boosting workers prospects for re-entry into the labour market at higher levels of productivity or performance.
The programme is designed to provide our beneficiaries with the opportunity to develop new skills and enhance existing ones. The programme will help beneficiaries to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the hospitality and tourism sector and prepare them for the challenges of the future. The programme also emphasizes vocational, and professional training and retraining.
After extensive stakeholder consultations, relevant course modules for the National Training and Retraining Programme were selected. The programme seeks to train about 8,000 workers in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector. Government will bear the cost of the training of al qualified and selected beneficiaries. Government will therefore pay thi fees of workers who enrol in the Programme.
Koforidua Technical University was selected as one of the Service Providers to provide training for 500 qualified beneficiaries in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector.
Mr Akwasi Owusu-Mainu encouraged KTU to prioritize the delivery of high-quality training and demonstrate efficiency in their operations to ensure that every cedi invested yields the maximum benefit for beneficiaries and the nation as a whole. KTU should explore cost-effective training methods, leverage technology where appropriate, and seek innovative approaches that deliver results efficiently without compromising quality.
He also implore all beneficiaries to seize this opportunity and actively participate in the various course modules you have been selected to pursue. This programme has been meticulously designed to empower, the beneficiaries, with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in your respective fields. It is not just another opportunity; it is a gateway to personal growth, and we encourage you to make the most of it. This programme may be the catalyst for your career journey ahead.
“We, therefore, encourage beneficiaries to not just attend or log onto lecture sessions but be actively engaged in the lectures as well as the practical sessions. This will not only empower you, the beneficiaries, but also strengthen our workforce, drive economic growth, and contribute to the overall development of our nation” he said.
On the part of the Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, Professor David Kofi Essumang, he said COVID-19 pandemic impacted negatively on all sectors of the economy but more so on the Tourism and Hospitality Sector and Private Education Sector.
He therefore commends government for such good initiative to mitigating unemployment.
Source:Mybrytfminline.com/Asabea Diana
