Ghana’s skills crisis deepens as Constance Swaniker pushes for industry-led training reform.

Founder and President of the Design and Technology Institute (DTI), Constance Swaniker, has called for a major shift towards industry-led, demand-driven training, stressing that employers must play a direct role in shaping educational curricula while learners gain practical experience in real workplaces.

Speaking at the Industry-Academia Roundtable 2026, Swaniker emphasized that aligning education and skills development with labour market demands is essential if Ghana is to turn its youthful population into a true demographic dividend.

She noted that a young population alone does not guarantee economic growth.

Citing the World Bank Human Capital Index, Swaniker revealed that Ghana scores 0.45, meaning a child born in the country today is expected to achieve only 45 percent of their potential productivity as an adult due to gaps in education, health, and skills development.

According to her, this indicates that more than half of Ghana’s potential human capital is lost before individuals can fully contribute to national development.

She also highlighted ongoing labour market challenges, pointing out that youth unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 stands at 32.1 percent. Many young people who are employed, she added, remain trapped in underemployment, informal work, and low-productivity jobs.

Swaniker said the informal sector accounts for between 74 and 84 percent of employment, while vulnerable employment among young people increased from 55.6 percent in 2021 to 60.9 percent in 2024.

While acknowledging gains in educational access over the past decade, Swaniker argued that the national focus must now shift from enrollment to relevance.

She noted that the proportion of young people with no formal education has fallen from 12.4 percent to 4.3 percent, while secondary education participation has risen from 23 percent to 36.8 percent. She credited initiatives such as the Free SHS policy for expanding access but cautioned that educational attainment alone is no longer enough.

Swaniker observed that many graduates struggle to secure jobs because their skills do not align with industry needs, even as employers face difficulties finding work-ready talent.

She disclosed findings from a 2025 baseline survey on human capital development conducted jointly by DTI and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), which exposed significant weaknesses in Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.

The survey found that more than 40 percent of TVET teachers reported limited alignment between training programs and industry needs. More than half of institutions had not updated their curricula in over five years, only 17 percent of assessed laboratories met industry standards, and fewer than one-third of instructors had participated in meaningful industry attachments or professional development programs within the past five years.

Swaniker urged policymakers to treat human capital development as an economic strategy rather than solely a social service. She said human capital is fully realized only when learning translates into productivity, innovation, entrepreneurship, employability, and national competitiveness.

She called for stronger collaboration among government, academia, industry, and development partners to build a coordinated ecosystem that prepares Ghanaians for both current and future job opportunities.

Drawing on DTI’s experience, Swaniker maintained that industry-led training delivers better outcomes. She said programs are most effective when employers help design curricula, learners gain workplace experience, and technical skills are combined with soft skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.