The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, and the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Laura Ranall, have paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Mawutor highlighted recent developments and initiatives being undertaken by the university, which include the launch of a faculty-authored textbook project and a robust student entrepreneurship drive.
He explained that the entrepreneurship drive is aimed at equipping students with practical, market-relevant skills, while the textbook project is intended to build the capacity of faculty members to develop contextually relevant academic materials tailored to the Ghanaian and African educational environment.
Prof Mawutor added that the initiative also seeks to reduce reliance on foreign textbooks and promote academic excellence through the use of locally produced, high-quality teaching and learning resources.
The Vice-Chancellor further expressed UPSA’s readiness to partner with government and international bodies on programmes designed to empower the youth with entrepreneurial and skills development.
“We believe in practical education, and our doors are open to collaborate on any initiative that supports our students,” Prof. Mawutor stated.
On her part, the Italian Ambassador, Laura Ranall, commended UPSA for its visionary projects and reiterated her government’s commitment to youth empowerment through skills development.
She revealed that the Italian government is currently collaborating with Ghana’s Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to train workers for the Italian job market.
She further emphasised Italy’s continued efforts to facilitate skills training programmes between Ghanaian and Italian institutions.
“We are committed to empowering the youth in Ghana, and we look forward to deepening partnerships with academic institutions like UPSA,” the Ambassador said.
Hon. Opare Addo, the Youth Minister, lauded UPSA for its strong focus on entrepreneurship and skills development.
He stated that the government considers entrepreneurship a key driver of national development and pointed out that skills training is essential for the sustainability of Ghana’s economy.
He cited the recent launch of the Adwumawura program as part of the government’s efforts to build the skillset of young people and enhance their employability.
“Just last week, a government delegation was in Geneva to discuss global best practices on youth development,” he added.
Impressed by UPSA’s initiatives, the Minister pledged to extend the government’s partnership with the university to support its entrepreneurial and skills training programmes.
Also present at the meeting were Mrs. Lorraine Gyan, Registrar; Prof. Emmanuel Selase Asamoah, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs (ASA); Prof. Samuel Antwi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer (RIKT); and Gabriele Palermo, Deputy Head of Mission and Consular Section.
