Ghana
Practice-Oriented Qualification in Skilled Trades
BODY Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
PARTNER Don Bosco Youth Network Ghana, TVET Schools in Sunyani and Kumasi
TIMEFRAME 2026 – 2027
In 2026, Kreishandwerkerschaft Steinfurt Warendorf got involved in a new international project in Ghana. In cooperation with Don Bosco, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Sequa gGmbH, the project focuses on strengthening hands-on vocational qualification in technical trades. The core objective is to enhance vocational education through a strongly practice-oriented training approach. The emphasis lies on direct applicability of skills and knowledge within workshops, training centers, and companies.
At the heart of the project is a Train-the-Trainer concept. Instructors and vocational trainers will be qualified in the trades of welding as well as plumbing, heating and HVAC (SHK). The training methodology combines technical theory with intensive practical application. Participating teachers and instructors are not only technically upskilled but also empowered with modern didactic and methodological competencies, enabling them to independently transfer their knowledge in a sustainable way. The ultimate goal is to become proficient welding educators, thereby contributing to the development of skilled welders in the country.
The core objective is to enhance vocational education through a strongly practice-oriented training approach.
Focus Area: Welding
The focus area of welding concentrates on modern joining techniques, occupational safety standards, and quality assurance procedures. Key elements include:
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- Safe working processes
- Application of certified welding techniques
- Material-specific processing
- Practical defect analysis and correction
Training takes place under real workshop conditions to ensure competence-based and performance-oriented qualification.
Focus Area: Plumbing, Heating and HVAC (SHK)
In the SHK sector, the emphasis is placed on practical installation and system competence. Topics include:
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- Installation of sanitary systems
- Heating system assembly
- Basics of energy-efficient solutions
- Maintenance and servicing of technical installations
The qualification approach is action-oriented and competence-based, ensuring that trainers gain hands-on experience with systems, models, and real-life scenarios.
Sustainable Impact Through Practical Application
The project deliberately prioritizes applied skills over purely theoretical instruction. By qualifying trainers, a strong multiplier effect is created: knowledge and competencies will be continuously transferred to apprentices and skilled workers.
With its launch in 2026, the project in Ghana represents a forward-looking step toward strengthening practice-based vocational qualification and international cooperation in skilled crafts and technical professions.
