Mr Tsedzah (right) explaining the functions of the machine to one of the dignitories.
The Government Technical Training Centre (GTTC), is calling on the Ministry of Finance to expedite clearance processes to enable the centre employ 22 additional staff to address its current human resource challenge.
Mr. Constant Tsedzah, Principal of GTTC, said the current staff strength of 28, both technical and administrative, was an impediment to the centre’s strategic plan to acquire tertiary status.
“As part of our strategic plan, we’re thinking of going high and expanding into tertiary level and with that we need to move into other road transport management, logistics and other programmes. In terms of equipment, we have sufficient and modern ones. Our only challenge now is the human resource which has worsened due to the ban on employment. We want clearance from the Ministry of Finance for us to be able to solve this problem,” he stated.
He was speaking in Accra yesterday in an interview with Ghanaian Times on the sidelines of the launch of the centre’s 50th anniversary celebration.
It was on the theme, ‘Skill acquisition- Foundation for Ghana’s development with GTTC as a focus point.’
In the long term, Mr. Tsedzah stated that it was part of plans to restructure the GTTC through the establishment of a modern automobile training institute which would include dormitories, workshops and classrooms on a new 50-acre site in Accra.
He said a new and bigger training centre would enable the centre to expand training, increase students admission and support government agencies including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ministry of Transport and among others in servicing their heavy duty equipment and trucks.
Additionally, the principal added that the plan also includes the expansion of the Driver Training into National Drivers Academy to train commercial drivers through a structured programme designed to impart strict adherence to road safety ethics and create alliances with private and institutional garages for students to do internship training.
The GTTC, he said, intends to run part time programmes including West Africa Senior Secondary Certificates Examinations (WASSCE) Business and General Arts, National Board for Professional and Technicians Examinations (NABPTEX), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) remedials, and professional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to broaden its operations.
Presently, Mr. Tsedzah stated that the centre was working seriously on accreditation by the National Accreditation Board to enable it run Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) programmes.
In order to position the centre to run degree programmes, he stated that the GTTC plans to affiliate with either George Grant University of Mines or Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Since its inception 50 years ago, the Principal said the centre has consistently produced about 5,000 quality automobile artisans for both the formal and informal automobile industry and called on stakeholders in the automobile and technical industry to partner it achieve its mandate while keeping abreast with rapid rate of change in the industry.
Acting Managing Director of Metro Mass Transit Limited and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Adu Boahene lauded the centre’s contribution to education by providing a unique opportunity for students to learn at the cutting edge of various disciplines in the automobile industry.
He said the celebration of the success story of the GTTC must incorporate all the various aspects and achievements in programmes to inform future plans and projects.
Vice Principal of GTTC, Emmanuel Kwafo Offei, expressed gratitude to past and present staff for working tirelessly for the growth of the centre.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
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