The Design and Technology Institute (DTI) has graduated 1,500 artisans and master craft persons in the Ashanti Region under its flagship “Precision Quality at Work” training programme — with women making up an overwhelming majority of participants.
Though organisers initially projected that 70 percent of the trainees would be women, actual turnout revealed that close to 90 percent of participants were female. The training covered diverse industries such as fashion, welding, automobile, hospitality, and food processing, equipping beneficiaries with skills in innovation, technology adoption, workplace safety, and customer-focused service delivery.
Mr. Mohit Sharma, Project Coordinator at DTI, described the strong female representation as “an eye-opener,” noting that women in the informal sector are increasingly embracing opportunities to formalize and grow their businesses. “This is proof that Ghanaian women understand the importance of quality, standards, and competitiveness, and are ready to lead the transformation of the informal economy,” he said.
Ms. Constance Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, emphasized that the training — conducted under the DTI/Mastercard Foundation Project Phase Two Initiative — is designed to transform Ghana’s vast but underperforming informal sector. She noted that women, who form a significant portion of this workforce, are crucial to raising productivity levels, integrating businesses into the formal economy, and positioning Ghana to compete globally.
“The informal sector is the heartbeat of our economy. By embedding precision, innovation, and integrity into everyday work, we are equipping women and men alike to be torchbearers of Ghana’s industrialization,” Ms. Swaniker stated.
Graduates are expected not only to apply their newly acquired skills but also to mentor apprentices, helping to entrench a culture of quality and professionalism in their communities.
Madam Grace Addo, a food processor who completed the programme, shared how the training changed her perspective. “I have learned to value customer feedback, maintain order at the workplace, and prioritize safety through measures like keeping first aid kits. These are small changes, but they make a huge difference,” she said.
Observers say the remarkable female participation signals a gradual shift in the gender dynamics of Ghana’s informal economy, where women are taking bold steps to lead with quality and innovation.
