ATCG Ghana
If wisdom is the application of knowledge, then what is the use of acquiring knowledge that the student will never apply? This rhetorical question is increasingly being asked by frustrated, unemployed Ghanaian TVET graduates and, in many cases, by their caregivers. Coming from rural areas and poor families, it feels almost like a curse to graduate and then fail to find a job. For young women, a pregnancy can further disrupt their life plans.
Background of the project
Mismatch between education and the labour market
Ghana’s traditional approach to Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) places the responsibility mainly on educational institutions, with little involvement from families and businesses. As a result, students acquire mostly theoretical knowledge that does not align with the needs of industry. The outcome is unemployment, limited transition into the labour market, and an increasing burden on the state.
Limited attractiveness of ATVET programmes
Although the Free Senior High School programme (FSHS) has increased progression into higher education, agricultural colleges remain a last‑resort option for students. Teacher‑training and nursing programmes offer quicker job security, while agriculture graduates often have to wait until the government lifts a hiring freeze — after which less than 30% find employment in the public sector.
Need for reform and innovation
This situation reveals a clear mismatch between labour‑market demand and the supply of graduates. To address this, vocational education needs greater flexibility, innovation, and market orientation. In Ghana, TVET programmes are particularly attractive when they offer practical skills — such as electrical engineering or construction — that lead to faster employment. Making ATVET more appealing to both students and employers is therefore essential.
The emergence of A‑TVET Connect, Ghana (ATCG)
To reduce the gap between educational institutions, Agro‑TVET graduates, and the agribusiness sector, a consortium of local and international partners has joined forces in the A‑TVET Connect, Ghana (ATCG) project. The Erasmus+ programme provides valuable support in this effort, with a focus on minority groups, teacher training, and collaboration with industry.
Overall objective of the project
The objective of ATCG is “to improve the employability of graduates — particularly women and vulnerable or marginalised groups — from agricultural colleges and institutes by reducing the gap between labour‑market demand and supply in the agricultural sector.”
The project aims to establish structural and sustainable physical and digital collaboration between ATVET providers and agribusinesses, aligned with the needs of the agro‑industry, and to create a strong position for KAC and ADFI in coaching, training, job design, placement, career guidance, and support for start‑ups, with special attention to women and vulnerable groups.
In addition, the project aims to improve the position of women and vulnerable groups in the agro‑sector through training and coaching focused on entrepreneurship and labour‑market readiness (both hard and soft skills). Indicators of success include a more efficient development of employable graduates — especially women; an annual increase in the number of graduates from Kwadaso and Adidome Agricultural Colleges who transition smoothly into the labour market; a rise in the number of graduates (particularly women and vulnerable groups) who secure ATVET‑related jobs; higher international rankings of the participating colleges; greater financial and operational sustainability of the colleges; and growing interest from both students and employers.
Specific objectives of the project
Collaboration between education and industry
ATCG focuses on strengthening interactions, collaborations, and partnerships between SMEs, employers, and VET/TVET institutions — both locally and internationally. This includes training, job design, and the placement of Agro‑TVET graduates, with particular attention to women.
The three specific objectives (SOs)
SO1: Facilitating structural and sustainable physical and digital collaboration between ATVET education providers and agribusiness companies, aligned with the demands of the agro‑industry.
SO2: Facilitating physical and digital coaching, training, job design, and placement within KAC and ADFI, as well as career guidance and start‑up support for young graduates, particularly women and vulnerable groups.
SO3: Improving the position of women and vulnerable groups in the agro‑sector through training and coaching focused on entrepreneurship and labour‑market readiness (both hard and soft skills).
Indicators for achieving the objectives
- More efficient training pathways with lower costs and shorter duration.
- Annual growth in the number of graduates from Kwadaso (P2) and Adidome (P3) who successfully enter the labour market.
- More graduates — especially women and vulnerable groups — securing ATVET‑related jobs.
- Higher international rankings of the participating colleges.
- Greater financial and operational autonomy of the institutions.
- Increasing demand from students and the labour market.
