Ghana and Japan have formally launched a joint training programme designed to equip young people with technical skills for the automotive industry and open pathways to employment in Japan, as both countries deepen a bilateral partnership forged across seven decades.
The initiative, branded the Ghana–Japan Auto Connect under the Green Auto Factory Africa (GAFA) project, was unveiled in Accra by George Opare-Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, at a launch event attended by Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yoshimoto.
The programme brings together the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, and Green Auto Factory AICHI of Japan, with Toyota among the industry partners providing support.
Selected participants will complete three months of Japanese language instruction followed by six months of specialised automotive training leading to a Level Three Automobile Mechanic Certification. Those who qualify may also access internship and employment opportunities in Japan through future labour mobility arrangements.
Opare-Addo said the initiative formed part of government’s broader effort to tackle youth unemployment through practical, market-responsive skills. He added that the global shift toward electric and advanced vehicle technologies made urgent reskilling essential for workers in Ghana’s automotive sector, which employs an estimated 300,000 people.
“As a Ministry, our mandate is clear: to empower young people with the skills, opportunities and resources necessary to become productive citizens and drivers of national development,” he said.
Ambassador Yoshimoto said the programme reflected Japan’s sustained commitment to Ghana’s human capital development and would help close the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations.
The GAFA initiative arrives as Ghana pushes to strengthen its position in the evolving continental automotive landscape, with Japanese carmakers having separately signalled plans to expand operations in the country following high-level diplomatic engagements earlier this year.
