The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) is taking steps to deepen its partnership with the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) in order to improve the collaboration between academia and industry.
The ultimate goal of this partnership is to support the university in providing training and education to professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the demands of the Ghanaian private sector and to participate in industry-enhancing research.
The Vice Chancellor of TTU, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, welcomed the delegation from GNCCI and emphasized the importance of the visit as it aligns with the university’s goal of promoting a strong collaboration between academia and industry. He noted that this collaboration will produce professionals who are ready to take advantage of the opportunities available in the private sector and provide the university with valuable feedback from the industry about the quality of graduates.
Madam Francisca Ewusiwa Ansah, the Sekondi-Takoradi Regional Manager of GNCCI, spoke on behalf of the Chamber and stated that GNCCI cannot succeed in promoting businesses in the region without the support of academia. She expressed the desire to collaborate with TTU on research, industrial attachment, and the revival of the “Life After School Entrepreneurs Series” program that was previously run by the Chamber and TTU. Madam Ansah also called for TTU to collaborate with GNCCI in creating a Western Regional version of the New-Year-School, which would focus on how to turn the Western Region’s economy around for the better.
The Western Regional Chairman of GNCCI, Lord Segbeawu, expressed the Chamber’s desire to partner with TTU to run mentorship programs for students in TTU’s niche areas, such as petroleum, as well as facilitate industrial attachment for hands-on training. He stressed the need for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GNCCI and TTU in order to define a roadmap for their collaboration.
The discussions between GNCCI and TTU aim to promote a stronger collaboration between academia and industry, which will benefit both the university and the private sector in Ghana. This collaboration will lead to the production of well-educated and highly skilled professionals who are ready to meet the demands of the industry and participate in industry-enhancing research.
