President Mahama has officially converted the Takoradi Polytechnic into a Technical University, making it the first among five other polytechnics to be converted under the new technical education direction by the government.

Speaking at the ceremony, the president said the conversion has become imperative following the jobs market need for skilled technical and practical personnel.

“Even though Technical and vocational education has been very important to Ghana’s socio-economic growth, the huge potential that it represents as a vehicle for enhancing economic productivity and social transformation has not been exploited to its fullest extent.

“The demands of the job market have changed. Business and industry is no longer looking for the ‘book-long,’ grammar school education that some of us received. The job market today is looking for skilled technical and practical personnel. These skill and competences are in boundless supply in institutions such as the Takoradi Technical University," the president said.

The president said the Cape Coast and the Tamale Polytechnics are being reassessed to be added to the six already approved institutions ready to be converted into technical universities.