The Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED) has rolled-out a short training programme for members of the Certified Electrical Wiring Professionals Association of Ghana (CEWPAG). The training is to deepen the knowledge and skills of participants in the wiring profession to offer improved services to clients.
The eight-week programme, designed on Competency-Based Training (CBT) principles, would help the trainees to acquire competencies regarding Health and Safety, Electrical Installation Drawing, Energy Efficiency Management, Electrical Estimation, and Electrical Business Development specifically.
About 120 members of CEWPAG in the Ashanti Region have been admitted to kick-start the programme described by organisers as a Foundation Course leading to more specialised training.
The Programme was officially opened on October 29, 2021, with the Vice-Chancellor of AAMUSTED, Prof. Frederick Kwaku Sarfo, describing it partly as a fulfillment of the University’s mandate to provide higher education in technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial training to develop skilled human resources for job creation and economic development in Ghana.
He also added that rolling out the programme had satisfied a component of the Memorandum of Understanding that AAMUSTED recently signed with CEWPAG. He assured the trainees that the University had highly qualified Lecturers and Technicians to offer them the best training and adequate material resources to guarantee them the best learning and hands-on experience. Therefore, he encouraged them to commit themselves to hard work so that the time and other resources they invested in the programme would not go to waste.
“Education and skill training at every level is never easy. I dare say yours might even be more difficult; so, take pride in what you are learning. The work you do is very crucial to our survival as a nation. Never look down on yourselves,” he encouraged them.
In his view, quality TVET education was more expensive than general education. Nevertheless, he said AAMUSTED acknowledged the importance of the programme to the country’s development and therefore subsidised it to enable them to come on-board. He suggested that AAMUSTED and CEWPAG can team up to seek sponsorship for future trainees to enable many wiring professionals to take advantage of the programme to improve themselves and contribute to the economic development of the country.
Again, he said, whereas the University would generously avail all of its resources to help them learn, it behooved them to ensure proper maintenance of the University property.
The Ashanti Regional President of CEWPAG, Engineer Yaw Amponsah Ababio, was grateful to the University for the opportunity provided to the CEWPAG members. He said education and skill training was a sure guarantee for the CEWPAG members to become marketable in the industry.
The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Technical Education (FTE), Dr. Humphrey Danso, observed that the trainee programme would open better opportunities for the trainees in the wiring industry. He said the FTE was happy to be leading such a laudable programme, indicating that the Faculty would be introducing other programmes and activities to make the University relevant to persons in the TVET sector.
Also present at the ceremony were the Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. James Kagya-Agyemang; the Acting Registrar, Mr. Michael Kofi Adu; Dean of Graduate Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Mathematics Education (FASME), Prof Stephen Jobson Mitchual; the University Librarian, Mr. Seth Katsekpor, the Head of University Relations, Mr. Michael Kofi Twum-Ampomah; Coordinator, Quality Assurance, Dr. Emmanuel Appiah-Kubi; and the Heads of Department for Electrical and Electronic Technology Education (DEETE), and Automotive and Mechanical Technology Education (DAMTE) Dr. Albert Awopone and Dr. Sherry K. Amedorme respectively.