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The SkillUp Forum which was organized by the Association of Ghana Industries – Energy Service Centre (AGI-ESC) and part of the AGI B2B Expo with support of the Green Energy Program (GEP) by Swisscontact served as both a skills development forum and a marketplace for connection where institutions and professionals engaged directly with industry players and service providers seeking to recruit, train, or collaborate.
The SkillUp idea was co-created by AGI and Swisscontact as part of GEP understanding that the labor market is polarized, with surpluses of both highly educated and unskilled workers, highlighting the urgent need for practical training to bridge the gap. Despite these challenges, Ghana’s education system provides a solid foundation, and its workforce is well-positioned for upskilling. Aligning training programs with green economy demands and fostering innovation in green industries can create sustainable jobs, drive economic growth, and build an inclusive green economy.
AGI and Swisscontact understood that the immediate focus should be on upskilling the current workforce, as the industry cannot absorb new skills instantly. '' We cannot continue to rely on the national grid alone, particularly if we aspire to run the economy on a 24-hour basis," said Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, AGI Chief Executive Officer. Raising awareness about the importance of upskilling will engage service providers and the existing workforce, attracting new industry players to invest in the sector and creating more jobs in the process. Given that the job market in the renewable energy space is fast changing, AGI and SC Ghana have envisioned that upskilling skills to fit the dynamic job market is essential and would curb the rates of unemployment in the sector. SkillUp emerged from industry’s realization that the priority isn’t just creating new jobs but improving the existing workforce. - Eugene Masiku, Swisscontact Ghana Communications Officer, reechoed.
The event saw strong participation from TVET institutions, private sector companies, and development agencies and other key stakeholders in the renewable energy sector, highlighting the growing demand for technically skilled professionals to support Ghana’s shift toward cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions. With the energy transition gaining traction, stakeholders emphasized that a workforce equipped with the right technical and soft skills is essential to unlock new investments and drive innovation.
From solar PV technicians to energy auditors, the discussion underscored the importance of upskilling existing workers and aligning training programs with fast-evolving industry standards.
The SkillUp Forum featured powerful presentations on demand-driven skills and the urgent need to make corporate upskilling part of business strategy. The forum highlighted that while Ghana’s education system continues to lay a strong foundation, there remains a disconnect between what is taught and what is needed in practice.
Panelists from Deloitte Ghana, HPW, Conference of Principals of Technical Institutions in Ghana (COPTI), and Tropical Cable & Conductor Ltd (TCCL) unpacked this gap, calling for deeper collaboration and innovation in how skills training is delivered. Discussions stressed the importance of:
· Embedding industry input into curricula,
· Offering workplace learning opportunities,
· And building a culture of lifelong learning among professionals.
Closing the event, AGI and Swisscontact Ghana shared an exciting next step: the upcoming DoSkills platform, a demand-oriented skills system that will systematically track industry needs, co-develop training content with employers, and support training providers to deliver more responsive and impactful programs. With a planned launch in 2026, DoSkills aims to be a game-changer in skills alignment for Ghana’s green and digital economy.
Swisscontact Ghana also hosted a vibrant booth at the expo, serving as a hub for dialogue, discovery, and partnership-building. The team actively engaged participants across sectors, sharing insights about Swisscontact’s Ghana Umbrella Approach, which focuses on five pillars: Renewable Energy, Recycling, IT, Sustainable Agriculture, and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.
The booth provided a platform to introduce ongoing projects, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations with stakeholders interested in skills development, green transition, and inclusive economic growth. Many attendees expressed strong interest in Swisscontact’s model and mission, sparking conversations that could lead to impactful partnerships in the near future.
The SkillUp Fair and B2B Expo reaffirmed a powerful truth: bridging Ghana’s skills gap requires more than classroom learning, it requires bold partnerships, hands-on experience, and systems that keep pace with economic realities. As stakeholders from across the renewable energy sector and beyond left the event, one message was clear: the future belongs to those who are prepared, and SkillUp is helping to lead the way.
The Green Energy Program (GEP) is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.