The Ghana TVET Service, in collaboration with UK-based RANT Academy, has launched the School Enterprise Project in Kumasi as part of efforts to equip technical and vocational students with practical entrepreneurial skills for job creation and self-employment.
The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world enterprise by giving students hands-on experience in running micro-businesses within their schools.
The pilot phase is currently underway in the Ashanti Region, with 25 out of 38 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions participating.
Held under the theme “Empowering Youth Through Practical Entrepreneurship,” the project provides learners with practical exposure in product development, business planning, financial management, and customer engagement.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana TVET Service, Engr. Richard Addo-Gyamfi, said the initiative is timely as Ghana expands TVET to align more closely with industry needs.
He stressed that schools should serve not only as centres of learning but also as hubs for innovation, enterprise, and skills development.
“We want to make the teaching and learning of entrepreneurship very practical. That is why the RANT School Enterprise Project is being rolled out as part of the programme,” he said.
Engr. Addo-Gyamfi noted that managements of TVET institutions have been directed to form student entrepreneurship clubs to establish businesses on their campuses.
“We’ve instructed schools offering entrepreneurship courses to set up businesses that align with their environment’s strengths, weaknesses, and internal assessments. The goal is to help them identify viable business opportunities where students can also get involved,” he added.
He further revealed that TVET institutions in Ghana are recording growing enrolment, reflecting a gradual shift in public perception toward skills-based education.
According to him, some institutions are now unable to admit all qualified applicants due to rising demand.
“We are now in the 21st century, an era defined by skills, and this is where employment opportunities lie. The long-standing perception that TVET is meant for the less academically inclined is gradually changing,” he said.
RANT Academy’s Founder and Programmes Director, Lizzy Lambie, also noted that Ghanaians possess a strong entrepreneurial spirit, but expressed concern about increasing migration in search of jobs abroad.
She cautioned that securing employment in countries such as the United Kingdom comes with significant challenges and encouraged young people to build businesses locally.
“When we started this programme, the students’ first request was for us to take them to the UK to work after graduation. But I told them that with the skills they have and the resources available in Ghana, they could achieve much more at home,” she said.
Lambie said many Ghanaians engage in informal side ventures but often fail to scale them into sustainable enterprises.
She urged a shift in mindset, particularly in the agricultural sector, noting its untapped potential for wealth creation.
“As a Ghanaian, I believe we have a natural entrepreneurial spirit… Agritech is a big industry, and the world is getting rich off our agriculture. So why aren’t we getting rich off our own agriculture?” she asked.
She encouraged young people to remain confident and pursue entrepreneurship despite challenges.
As part of the event, RANT Academy honoured participating students and facilitators of the entrepreneurship clubs with citations and plaques.
RANT Passport, a digital platform developed by RANT Academy, was also launched to connect TVET students with employers.
The platform allows students to upload their profiles, work experience, and video CVs showcasing practical skills, enabling employers to assess candidates more effectively.
By embedding enterprise practice into TVET, stakeholders hope to reduce graduate unemployment and stimulate local economic activity.
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