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Trade Minister Cuts Sod for Landmark Industrial Skills Hub to Drive Jobs and Innovation

Ghana's drive towards industrial transformation received a major boost on Thursday as the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Lawyer Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, officiated the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the Integrated Industry Training, Entrepreneurship and Database Hub (ITAED-HUB) in Accra.

Date Created : 6/19/2026 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Mary Ayertey/Ghanadistricts.com

The state-of-the-art facility, being developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through its Institute of Industrial Research (IIR), is expected to become a national powerhouse for industrial skills development, entrepreneurship training and workforce planning.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare described the project as a strategic investment in Ghana's future workforce, stressing that the country's industrial growth agenda depends largely on the availability of highly skilled and innovative young professionals.

She noted that the ITAED-HUB is designed to bridge the long-standing gap between industry demands and technical skills training by equipping young Ghanaians with practical, industry-relevant competencies needed to thrive in today's competitive economy.

"The future of Ghana's industrialization depends on our ability to train and empower a workforce that can meet the demands of modern industry," the Minister stated.

The project is being funded under the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA) programme of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD), with financial support from Germany's KfW Development Bank.

According to the Minister, the facility will provide hands-on training in key industrial sectors including automotive technology, mechatronics, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems and 3D digital manufacturing.

Beyond skills training, the Hub will also host a comprehensive labour market database to track industry trends and ensure training programmes remain aligned with emerging economic opportunities and workforce needs.

Hon. Ofosu-Adjare revealed that recent studies have highlighted significant competency gaps within Ghana's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, making innovative interventions such as the ITAED-HUB critical to addressing the country's skills deficit.

She commended CSIR-IIR for securing the competitive continental grant and acknowledged the contributions of AUDA-NEPAD, the German Government, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) towards the success of the initiative.

The Minister further emphasized that the project aligns with government's broader industrialization agenda by promoting local content participation, reducing dependence on imported skilled labour and fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs and technical experts.

She also called on private sector players, engineering firms, automotive workshops and technology companies to partner with the Hub by supporting curriculum development, offering internship opportunities and creating employment pathways for trainees.

Director-General of CSIR, Prof. Paul P. Bosu, described the ITAED-HUB as a transformative intervention that will strengthen the link between research, innovation and industry while creating opportunities for youth employment and enterprise growth.

Upon completion, the facility is expected to serve as a national centre of excellence for industrial skills training, entrepreneurship development and innovation, positioning Ghana to better compete in the global industrial landscape while creating sustainable jobs for thousands of young people.