Speech by the Director-General, For The Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Mr. Zakaria Sulemana at the Press Launch of the Ghana TVET Excellence Awards On Wednesday, 17th December, 2025
Distinguished members of the press,
Representatives of TVET Institutions,
Development partners,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to welcome you to the official press launch of the Ghana TVET Excellence Awards. Today marks an important milestone in our collective effort to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a respected, attractive, and impactful pathway for national development.
The Ghana TVET Excellence Awards is a joint initiative of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and The Delegation of German Industries in Ghana (AHK) with funding support from the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building a strong, demand-driven TVET system that responds directly to the needs of industry, supports innovation, and equips Ghanaian youth with relevant, employable skills.
The Awards are designed to recognize, reward, and promote excellence across the entire TVET ecosystem in Ghana. They celebrate outstanding institutions, exceptional students, dedicated facilitators, skilled industry practitioners, and innovators within both the formal and informal sectors. In doing so, the Awards send a clear message that skills excellence matters and that technical competence, creativity, and professionalism deserve national recognition.
Specifically, the Awards seek to encourage high-quality delivery of TVET programmes, strengthen industry linkages, promote workplace-based learning, and celebrate exceptional achievements at both pre-tertiary and tertiary levels. They also aim to improve the visibility and public perception of TVET, while inspiring innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement across institutions, workplaces, and training centres nationwide.
This year’s Award categories reflect the diversity and depth of Ghana’s TVET landscape. They include Overall Best TVET Providers at pre-tertiary and tertiary levels, Outstanding TVET Students, Excellence in Competency-Based Training practice, Innovation among trainees, recognition of the informal sector through the Master Craft Person award, and a special category celebrating female excellence in male-dominated trade areas. These categories ensure that merit is recognized across institutions, trades, and learner pathways.
Beyond celebration, the Ghana TVET Excellence Awards play a strategic role in improving quality and standardization within the TVET system. By rewarding institutions and practitioners who adhere to national occupational standards, competency-based training principles, and industry requirements, the Awards reinforce best practices and encourage others to raise their standards. In this way, the Awards contribute directly to quality assurance, consistency, and credibility across the sector.
The Awards also matter because TVET is central to Ghana’s industrial transformation and job creation agenda. A skilled workforce is the backbone of productivity, innovation, and competitiveness. By showcasing role models of excellence, the Ghana TVET Excellence Awards help change mindsets, elevate the image of skilled work, and affirm that TVET graduates are not second options, but critical drivers of economic growth and national development.
Ladies and gentlemen, transparency and credibility are at the heart of this Awards scheme. The selection process will be guided by clear criteria and overseen by independent, neutral, and highly respected jury members drawn from industry, academia, and professional bodies. This approach ensures fairness, objectivity, and public confidence in the outcomes of the Awards.
In this regard, I wish to encourage all eligible institutions, students, facilitators, industry practitioners, and informal sector actors to participate. If you meet the criteria, I urge you to apply. These Awards are open, inclusive, and designed to reflect the true breadth of talent and excellence that exists within Ghana’s TVET ecosystem. You can apply by visiting the CTVET website.
In closing, I reaffirm CTVET’s commitment to building a high-quality, industry-relevant, and inclusive TVET system that works for Ghana. The Ghana TVET Excellence Awards is not just a celebration—it is a call to excellence, professionalism, and pride in skills. I thank our partners, particularly the Government of Germany through BMBFSFJ, the media, and all stakeholders for your continued support. Together, let us elevate TVET, empower skilled people, and shape Ghana’s future through skills. Thank you.
