The Conference of Principals of Technical Institutes (COPTI) Greater Accra, has held its 2026 Conference with a call on stakeholders to provide logistics, material and relevant administrative support to Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) schools.
The President of COPTI, Architect Arko Dometey who made the appeal at the 3- day event said the provision would help the schools to operate with maximum efficiency.
He urged industry partners to collaborate with TVET schools to help achieve its manifold lofty dreams, urging them to sponsor workshops and donate modern equipment.
It was on the theme: “Reflecting on the progress, overcoming challenges and shaping the future of industry.”
He noted that TVET schools faced serious challenges with furniture and basic infrastructure across the 240- plus schools nationwide, disclosing that learners sat on broken chairs, wrote on uneven surfaces and shared furniture intended for individual use.
Mr Dometey urged principals of TVET schools to continue to lead with integrity, innovation and resolve while embracing digital transformation.
“Strengthen industry linkages and ensure that your institutions produce graduates with the practical competencies and entrepreneurial mindset to drive Ghana’s industrial transformation”, he said.
Over the past year, he said, COPTI had strengthened its position as the foremost professional body representing Principals of Technical Institutions in Ghana.
According to him, COPTI had been formally recognised as the official representative body for TVET institutions in Ghana, extensively consulted by the Ghana TVET Service, GETFund, the Free SHS/ Secretariat and the Ministry of Education.
He applauded ongoing discussions initiated by the Education Minister towards the establishment of a TVET fund, a measure which according to him, if properly structured, could address many of the resource gaps outlined in its operation.
He called for an enabling environment to be created for TVET schools to be innovative and creative, adding, “let us shape a future where every TVET school has the furniture, tools and equipment for quality instruction.
Ghana, he said, was not a passive recipient of other nations technologies but a creator and master of its own.
Mr. Emmanuel Kotey Ashie, Institute Manager, Applied Technology Institute, East Legon encouraged members of the conference to promote peer learning, institutional collaboration, resources sharing and joint problem – solving.
He said if Ghana was to achieve sustainable industrialisation, expand manufacturing, develop renewable energy, strengthen agriculture and agro- processing and create decent employment for the youth, then TVET must be positioned at the centre of that transformation.
He noted that greater attention must be given to green skills because the future of industry will increasingly be shaped by renewable energy, climate smart technologies, and energy efficiency among others.
Mr. Ashie called for stronger partnerships with industry so that training responds directly to real workplace needs.
He asked leaders of TVET institutions to be honest about the challenges facing their schools, outlining some challenges such as ageing training equipment, limited resources, infrastructure gaps, among other problems.
He called for stronger alignment between training and rapidly changing industries.
