Accra: The Design and Technology Institute (DTI) has commissioned Africa's first American Welding Society (AWS)-certified Welder Training and Testing Centre, marking a significant milestone in Ghana's technical and vocational education and training (TVET) landscape. The state-of-the-art facility, located at DTI's campus, is equipped with a 40-booth workshop, digital welding simulators, and a metallurgical training laboratory. It is designed to train and certify Ghanaian welders to international standards, positioning them for opportunities both locally and globally. According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Archibald Buah-Kwofie, Acting Director of the Nuclear Power Institute at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, described the centre as a 'strategic national asset' and a 'catalyst for transforming Ghana's TVET landscape.' He emphasized the centre's potential impact on Ghana's emerging nuclear energy sector by providing certified welders essential for constructing and maintaining future nuclear facilities. Dr. Bua h-Kwofie advocated for a national welding dialogue to establish a framework for standardizing training, aligning curricula, and certifying welders across the country. DTI President, Ms. Constance Swaniker, highlighted the institute's five-year journey advocating for stronger collaboration between academia and industry. She noted the skills mismatch between graduates and industry needs has contributed to high youth unemployment and low productivity. 'DTI's 70% employability score, validated by the IFC Vitae Assessment, is a testament to our commitment to co-designed curricula, entrepreneurship training, and industry-led instruction,' she said. The centre integrates soft skills training facilitated by clinical psychologists and arts-in-education specialists, ensuring graduates are not only technically competent but also emotionally intelligent and workplace-ready. Ms. Swaniker described the initiative as a reflection of a growing alignment between the public and private sectors to build a skilled, confident, and globally competitive workforce among Ghana's youth. She emphasized the Centre's potential to offer internationally certified training and testing services to meet the demands of both local and global industries. 'This Centre sets a new benchmark for human capital development in Ghana's TVET sector,' Ms. Swaniker said, noting its capacity to create dignified, well-paying job opportunities for the youth. Mr. Isaac Tetteh, DTI's Welding and Fabrication Department Head, emphasized the centre's role in producing globally competitive welders aligned with AWS, ASME, and ISO standards. He called for strategic partnerships with international certification bodies and local regulators to expand certification opportunities and support Ghana's industrialization agenda. Additionally, he highlighted its state-of-the-art Mechanical and Metallurgical Testing Laboratory as a game-changer for the country's industrial sector, significantly reducing dependency on international testing services and supporting local content de velopment. Mr. Tetteh announced plans to position DTI as the continent's 'Welding Centre of Excellence' through collaborations with globally recognised bodies such as DNV and ABS, paving the way for advanced professional certifications. These certifications, including Certified Welding Inspector and NDT certifications, are deemed crucial for Ghana's industrialisation and energy transition. The Centre, adopting the AWS SENSE curriculum, aims to produce highly skilled welding and fabrication professionals who meet international standards, reducing reliance on foreign labour and enhancing local content in major infrastructure projects.