Two students of Ho Technical University in the Volta Region, representing
Ghana over the weekend, won Gold and Silver at the WorldSkills Africa Competition in Namibia.
Manfugi Yao Agbo and Deladem Oko won for the country, Gold in the Web Technology category, and Silver in the Fashion Technology category, respectively.
The continental Worldskills Competition had other competitors from Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar, Zambia, DRC, Ethiopia, and one Refugee representing WorldSkills International.
Ghana was represented in the following categories, Welding, Web Technology, Mechatronics, Automobile Technology, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Fashion Technology, Hairdressing, Electrical Installation, and Bricklaying.
Mr. Agbo will join other category winners to represent Africa at the global WorldSkills Competition in China later this year.
At the end of the competition, Ghana Team won four medals, that’s two Gold (Mechanical Engineering Computer-Aided Design and Web Technology) and two silver medals (Fashion Technology and Electrical Installation) after the week-long competition.
The event saw participants competing in areas like Automobile Technology, Bricklaying, Electrical Installations, Joinery, Plumbing and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Wall and Floor Tiling, Water Technology, Cooking, Hairdressing, Restaurant Service, Mechatronics, Welding, Mechanical Engineering CAD, and Fashion Technology.
The Director-General of the Commission for TVET Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah who led the WorldSkills Ghana Team said, “A huge congratulations to the Hardworking Team Ghana. The Team has made Ghana so so proud!! We are coming home smiling big!”.
WorldSkills is a capacity-building programme and skills competition aimed at ensuring that the skills competition is inclusive and addresses the actual social challenges faced in Africa.
The program focuses on collaborative mentorship between WorldSkills International Experts and National Experts (TVET teachers/trainers from Africa), inclusiveness and human-centered design approach, and knowledge exchange on occupational standards, skills training, test project development with social values, and skills competition management.
BY Daniel Bampoe