Ghana TVET Service partners with Tema Oil Refinery to propel skills development ahead of National TVET Week 2026

The Ghana TVET Service has formed a strategic partnership with Tema Oil Refinery (ToR) to bolster skills development ahead of National TVET Week 2026, set to take place from October 12 to 16. The collaboration, which emerged following a meeting at the refinery, aims to ensure that training aligns closely with industry requirements by enhancing certification and guaranteeing that graduates meet national standards for refinery operations.

This partnership also offers structured Work Experience Learning placements at ToR, granting learners direct insight into plant operations and positioning them for potential employment within the refinery's workforce. For ToR, the significance of this collaboration is evident as the refinery anticipates a steady influx of skilled professionals, such as engineers, technicians, machinists, and maintenance specialists, to maintain its operations in the years to come.

By supporting National TVET Week, ToR is contributing to a broader national initiative to dispel negative perceptions surrounding technical and vocational education and to inspire more young individuals to pursue skills training. Tema Oil Refinery's Managing Director, Mr. Edmond Kombat Esq, emphasized that the partnership offers a chance to alter the narrative surrounding TVET.

He stated that TVET has long been regarded as a fallback option for those who could not pursue other paths. The Deputy Director General in charge of Management Services at the TVET Service, Mr. Fatah Mahama, highlighted that National TVET Week 2026, backed by ToR, presents an opportunity to transform this perception. He noted that when Ghanaians connect the refinery's engineers, technicians, and craftsmen with their career achievements, the narrative shifts to one of dignity, opportunity, and national progress.

Discussions between the two entities also underscored the critical role of certification in a high-risk, high-precision environment like a refinery. Certification is not merely a formality but a prerequisite for ensuring safety, efficiency, and reliability, thereby placing a strong emphasis on the TVET system to maintain a close alignment with industry standards, ensuring graduates are truly job-ready.

On behalf of the Ghana TVET Service, Mr. Abdul Fatah Maigah Mahama Esq stressed that the partnership serves as a powerful demonstration of the value of skills training. He explained that this collaboration effectively communicates the narrative that TVET is shaping Ghana's job landscape and that ToR is not merely sponsoring a celebration but is also backing the workforce that keeps its plant operational.

This proves that TVET graduates are not the last option but the first choice of Ghana's leading industries. Central to this collaboration is the Service's Work Experience Learning (WEL) program, which provides learners with hands-on exposure to industry operations. Through this program, learners transition from theoretical instruction to practical experience in refinery settings, helping to bridge the gap between training and real-world application while simultaneously giving industry early visibility into the talent it will rely on.

Mr. Maigah Mahama reiterated the significance of the partnership, stating that it signals a new era for TVET in Ghana. He emphasized that when the nation's leading refinery invests in skills training, it sends a clear message to every parent and young person: TVET is the pathway to Ghana's industrial future. Together, they are building the skilled workforce that will power the country's refinery sector for decades to come.

National TVET Week 2026 will encompass a range of activities, including policy dialogues, stakeholder engagements, and industry-led events, all aimed at reshaping public perception, boosting enrollment, and highlighting the opportunities available within skills training. With ToR now confirmed as a partner and sponsor, it joins a growing coalition of institutions committed to repositioning TVET in Ghana, transforming a week of engagement into a sustained investment in the workforce that will drive the country's industrial growth.