Twenty-four (24) Vocational Education and Training (VET) facilitators have successfully graduated from the CircuwasteVETAfrica Train-the-Trainers Programme in Kumasi. The project which is a phase of the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development (PRESED)’s Eramus+ project, marks a significant step toward advancing the green economy and circular waste management agenda in Ghana and parts of Africa.
The certificate award ceremony took place on Wednesday, 17th December 2025, after an intensive capacity-building programme aimed at equipping trainers with the knowledge, facilitation skills, and mindset required to embed green waste management and circular economy principles into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) delivery.
The CircuwasteVETAfrica Project seeks to transform waste into wealth by creating green job opportunities for unemployed and unskilled youth, while strengthening the capacity of TVET institutions in Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and São Tomé. The initiative is implemented through a consortium of African and European partners, including institutions in Italy, Spain, and Portugal, with funding support from the European Commission under the Erasmus Plus Programme.
The project focuses on developing an effective Green Circular Waste Training Curriculum, supported by public–private partnerships at the local level. Through cross-border collaboration, the programme aims to equip learners with industry-relevant green skills, promote sustainable production practices, and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Anthony Sarkodie Amankwah, Project Team Lead for the Presbyterian Relief Services and Development’ (PRESED) Eramus+ project, explained that the project is centered on environmental sustainability and practical skills development.
“The Circular Waste VET Africa project is about green waste management and the circular economy. We are working to develop a curriculum that can be adopted by TVET institutions, ensuring that environmental sustainability becomes an integral part of vocational training,” he stated.
Mr. Sarkodie Amankwah noted that Ramseyer Technical Institute, one of the implementing institutions in Ghana, is integrating the project as a top-up programme to its existing TVET courses. This approach enables trainees in fields such as fashion design, electrical engineering, plumbing and gas, and building construction to understand how waste generated during production can be reused, recycled, or repurposed rather than discarded.
“The idea is to inculcate the right attitude toward waste management so that our environment becomes friendly and sustainable for future generations,” he added.
The completed phase of the project focused on training facilitators, resulting in the certification of 24 trainers who are now equipped to transfer knowledge, skills, and values related to circular economy practices. These trainers will, in the next phase, train 60 selected learners, ensuring that green concepts are fully integrated into their core vocational disciplines.
Representing the Ghana TVET Service, Ashanti Regional Directorate, Mr. Emmanuel Agyei Berko, Assistant Administrative Manager, expressed strong support for the initiative on behalf of the Regional Director.
“As I have witnessed today, this is a very good project that Ramseyer Technical Institute is embarking on. We believe it will enhance learners’ future employability and also help facilitators improve their career development,” he said.
Mr. Berko emphasized that waste management has become a major challenge in Ghana and Africa, and initiatives such as CircuwasteVETAfrica are critical to addressing the problem.
“In TVET, we operate Enviro-Green Clubs where we believe that waste materials are not waste but resources. We train our learners to reuse and recycle materials from their various departments. This project aligns perfectly with that vision,” he noted.
Some participants also shared their positive impressions of the programme, highlighting its practical relevance and its potential to significantly improve both facilitation skills and learner outcomes in vocational education.
Beyond environmental protection, the CircuwasteVETAfrica Project promotes green digital jobs, supports TVET institutions in the green transition, and creates pathways for youth and women to enter the growing green job market.
By embedding circular economy principles into vocational training, the initiative contributes meaningfully to sustainable development, job creation, and environmental stewardship across the continent.
