GNPC Supports Over 2,100 Artisans in Phase 2 of Skilled Artisan Project
In the second phase of its Skilled Artisan Project, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) assists 2,135 artisans across 12 regions of Ghana to sit for the National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) proficiency examination. This initiative, a key element of GNPC’s Livelihood Empowerment Programme, aims to provide artisans with formal certification to enhance their employability and competitiveness in the job market.
The exams, commencing this week, will run through the second week of November across the Volta, Oti, Savannah, Northern, Northeast, Western, Western North, Central, Eastern, Bono, Ahafo, and Ashanti regions. The artisans, under this project, have undergone intensive training and refresher courses in a wide range of trade disciplines including Shoe Making, Make-Up, Beadmaking, Exterior and Interior Decoration, Cookery, Baking, Spraying, Plumbing, Tiling, and Aluminium Fabrication. Other areas are Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Carpentry, General Electricals, Gas Welding, Masonry, Tailoring, Dressmaking, Hairdressing, Steel Bending, and Motor Vehicle Electricals.
Principal Media Officer at GNPC Foundation, Moses Antwi Benefo, addressing the media in Kumasi, said the NVTI exams will ensure that artisans are qualified and suitable for work. “The NVTI proficiency examination is a crucial step in certifying that these artisans have acquired the skills necessary for the job market. Successful candidates, like all else who’ve come through this program, will graduate and receive start-up tools to support them in their entrepreneurial journeys,” he added.
This second phase of the Skilled Artisan Project builds on the success of earlier editions which also focused on empowering artisans with essential skills for sustainable livelihoods. The project is part of GNPC’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, designed to address unemployment and boost entrepreneurship through vocational training.
By helping artisans gain NVTI certification, GNPC is ensuring they meet industry standards, thereby improving their chances of securing employment or establishing their businesses. The provision of start-up tools to successful graduates further enhances their ability to become self-reliant and contribute to the growth of local industries.