The Lordboam Skills Development & Training Centre has been officially launched in Yeji, marking a significant milestone for the Pru East Constituency in the Bono East Region.

The Bono East TVET Director, Appiah Kubi, said the Centre is accredited and affiliated with the Ghana TVET Commission. It offers fashion design, electrical, and computing courses through a 7-month intensive, free training program.

Appiah Kubi explained that registered master craftspersons will be selected to mentor apprentices as part of the free apprenticeship program, supported under the TVET-covered voucher scheme and allowances, sponsored by the German-Ghana government.

He told journalists that master craftspersons will be retrained to meet current industrial advancements, enabling them to teach modern curricula. Both master craftspersons and their apprentices are entitled to a daily allowance throughout the 7-month program.

Upon completion, apprentices will gain practical experience by attaching to their masters’ or madams’ firms or companies.

The Lordboam Skills Development & Training Centre is fully equipped with industrial sewing machines, desktop computers, electrical equipment, and home economics utilities.

Speaking at the grand opening, Pru East MP Emmanuel Kwaku Boam urged the youth to seize the opportunity to acquire artisanal skills.

“This Centre belongs to you. It is your launchpad, your opportunity, your pathway to a better life,” he stressed.

The facility offers programs in Electrical Engineering Technology, Catering and Hospitality Management, Consumer Electronics Technology, and Game Development, aiming to equip young people with skills for formal employment, entrepreneurship, or innovation.

MP Boam emphasized that the Centre is committed to inclusivity and accessibility, exploring scholarship opportunities and partnerships to make skills training available to all.

The launch in Yeji was attended by traditional leaders, development partners, industry collaborators, the Deputy CEO of the National Youth Authority, the Bono East Minister, the Bono East TVET Director, and community members.

The MP noted that the Centre’s establishment demonstrates the impact of transformative development initiatives and nurturing raw talent in Pru East.

“This Centre is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together with shared purpose and determination,” he said.

The theme, “Empowering Futures, Building Communities: Skills for Sustainable Development,” reflects the urgent economic realities facing Ghana today. The MP further noted that the TVET Centre in Yeji aligns with the 24-hour economy vision of the President, which demands a skilled and agile workforce.

Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu Antwi, emphasized that a well-established TVET system drives economic growth, industrialization, innovation, and diversification.

According to him, individuals who pursue TVET education have opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and Information and Communication Technology. He reiterated President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to enhancing TVET education through the free apprenticeship program, the one-million coding initiative, and the establishment of TVET Centres in Senior High Schools across the country.

Owusu Antwi said the President has promised to rebrand TVET education to make it more attractive and provide incentives for learners and instructors. He noted that expanding infrastructure remains a government priority under its reset agenda.

He also called on the residents, chiefs, and people of Yeji and Bono East to embrace the Lordboam Skills Development & Training Centre to ensure its sustainability.

Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association Chairman in Bono East, Amos Affah, thanked the government and the MP for making TVET education accessible in Yeji.

Affah explained that previously, individuals seeking technical and vocational training had to travel to Nkoranza or Techiman, a situation he described as troubling and an impediment to TVET education.

He praised the Pru East MP’s support for TVET education as unmatched and trailblazing, encouraging the youth to embrace technical education.