Ghana's DTI Breaks Ground on $28M Skills Training Campus

When Constance Swaniker watched eager young people struggle to find work while industries couldn't fill positions, she knew something had to change. Now her solution is getting 11 acres bigger.

The Design and Technology Institute broke ground on March 31 for a $28 million multi-skills campus in Berekuso, Ghana. The ambitious project will create what's expected to be the largest welding and fabrication center in the country, with 160 training booths alongside advanced testing labs, academic buildings, and student facilities.

Swaniker founded DTI in 2016 after seeing the disconnect firsthand at her manufacturing company, Accents & Art. She started with just nine learners and a simple mission: train people for the jobs that actually exist.

The approach worked. DTI has now trained more than 48,000 young people in technical and vocational programs, and over 81,000 have transitioned into employment or meaningful work opportunities.

The new campus takes that success to scale. When fully completed across four phases, it will train up to 3,500 learners each year and operate as a Pan-African Centre of Excellence for workforce development.

Phase One is being funded by a €3 million grant from the African Union Development Agency through the Skills Initiative for Africa. The first phase introduces new programs including Industrial Plumbing, Industrial Electrical, Cleaning Sciences, and Agri-Mechanisation.

What makes DTI different is its "production school" model. Students don't just learn theory in classrooms. They work on real industry projects, building the hands-on experience employers actually need.

The Ripple Effect

The campus represents more than job training for Ghana. Africa's youngest population faces a critical challenge: potential without pathways. DTI's expansion creates a blueprint other countries can follow, turning demographic advantage into economic strength.

Female participation has grown steadily at DTI, showing that when barriers to technical education come down, opportunity rises. Applications surge every year, proving the hunger for quality skills training exists.

Industry partners are already collaborating with DTI, recognizing that investing in training today means having the skilled workforce they need tomorrow. The model benefits everyone: students gain employment, companies fill positions, and communities grow stronger.

The first students will arrive on the Berekuso campus for the 2028/2029 academic year, ready to build Africa's industrial future one skilled trade at a time.