The economic relationship between Ghana and Italy has soared to new heights in recent years. From the major role that Italian energy giant Eni is playing in the development of Ghana’s hydrocarbon resources to the efforts of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to increase economic exchanges between the two countries, it is clear that Italy-Ghana economic cooperation is at its strongest in history.
Italy’s approach to partnership with Ghana is unique, with an emphasis on technology and skills development. Technology is important because it is what Italy exports most, to Ghana and the rest of the world. Indeed, Italian technology is much sought after, not only for its level of quality, reliability, and flexibility but also because Italian suppliers’ approach is to make sure that end-users are fully prepared to make the most out of the technology they buy and are happy with it.
Training, the second aspect of the approach, is in fact a pillar of the Italian way to build relationships; it is based on Italian expertise and know-how, deeply rooted in decades of experience at the highest levels as a manufacturing country and as a leading exporter that is used to being confronted with very different conditions worldwide.
A priority area for Italy’s bilateral cooperation is the agribusiness sector. This is no surprise, as Italy is well known internationally for being a top performer in industrial technology, especially in the agro-food industry. In addition to introducing its world-leading technologies to the local agribusiness sector, Italy is running several training activities in Ghana that aim at building skills and growing local technical capacity.
For example, the Italian Trade Agency has carried out the LabInnova project, a technical and managerial training program to empower Ghanaian agro-businesses to increase their export activity, particularly in the EU and Italian markets. ITA is currently also arranging the participation of a Ghanaian delegation in Macfrut, which is a major agribusiness trade and industry event in Italy.
Other training activities are run by other Italian organizations. Each has its own special distinctive features, but all share the same drive to build a culture of quality and distinction.
Among the training and skills development programs worth highlighting is Eni’s Okuafo Pa project. Eni is a major energy company that seeks to contribute to the socio-economic development of the countries where it operates, following its dual-flag model, which means it can grow only if the country where it operates can benefit from its activity and growth. “In line with the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, we want to contribute to the economic development of Ghana, starting with agri-business that is able to have a short-term and broad-scale impact,” says Mauro Martufi, CEO of Okuafo Pa. “Accordingly, with the Government of Ghana, we have started the Okuafo Pa project in Kyeramasu, Dormaa East, with the aim of improving know-how, enhancing productivity, contributing to emissions reduction, and facilitating access to credit to increase mechanization and digitalization in agri-business.”
The Okuafo Pa training center, established in 2019, is fully powered by renewable energy and trains 800 people per year. With the support of KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), the center trains people in practical and managerial agri-business practices, including smart climate agriculture. The target beneficiaries are people between 18 and 40 years old who want to improve their economic conditions, attain better livelihoods, and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country through agri-business. The beneficiaries, 50% of whom are women, are selected by an independent committee on the principles of fairness, equality, and repeatability.
The first 800 trainees graduated in November 2020. About 50 graduates have found new jobs, and the remaining 750 are incorporating more than 60 new cooperatives along the value chains of tomatoes, cocoa, cashew, maize, and poultry. Ten percent of the new cooperatives are already in the harvesting phase of their production.
Post-training assistance is a critical component of the project to ensure the training given to beneficiaries bears fruits. According to Mr. Martufi, Okuafo Pa offers its trainees a “job placement platform” and an “incubator” to support new business initiatives. The incubator will soon feature a dedicated micro-credit facility developed by the Italian Bank of Development (Cassa Depositi e Presiti) and local banks.
The objectives of the project, Mr. Martufi says, are to provide the labour market with a skilled workforce and also develop local, sustainable value chains for strategic products that support national food security (e.g. poultry, tomatoes, and maize) and the country’s industrial agenda (e.g. cocoa and cashew). “If conditions are satisfied, the project could be replicated in other areas of Ghana to reach a wider number of beneficiaries. We estimate that 5,000 people per year can benefit from the direct and indirect effects of the project,” he adds.
Another Italian training initiative is the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellence being constructed by De Lorenzo, an Italian company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. De Lorenzo is a specialized manufacturer and supplier of technical and vocational training solutions, and its projects for Ghana are turnkey solutions, made up of the construction and equipment, as well as the connected services, such as installation, commissioning, and training of trainers.
De Lorenzo believes that the quality of any TVET program and its products is dependent on the quality and quantity of personnel available to the program. Since competitive TVET systems need vocational teachers, trainers, instructors, and specialists of high calibre, one full month’s training session is organized both locally and in Italy to help the trainers acquire confidence and the necessary technical training skills. The focus of this training is on the detailed use of the didactic/training equipment provided, the use of the various training manuals, as well as maintenance of the equipment.
The first TVET Centre of Excellence is located in Anyinam, in the Eastern Region, and will, among other activities, train students in food processing, focusing on transformation and value addition to various fruits such as mangoes and oranges to convert them into different finished products.
The Centre will have a food processing laboratory with the capacity to process 100 kg/h of fresh fruit products. This laboratory can process raw materials for the preparation of concentrated products such as juice and jam. Through this line, it is feasible to practically develop a small but complete fruit production cycle until the final packing solution. The main focus areas are fruit handling line; fruit preparation line; packing line and pasteurization batch; drying production.
The laboratory allows 30 students per class, who study in different working areas. It is structured to provide the teacher different learning solutions so that students can be divided into different groups of four or five, where each group will be allocated to a specific working area. A similar food processing line will be set up in Akumadan.
Through the TVET Centres of Excellence, De Lorenzo aims to support the government of Ghana’s efforts to develop technical and vocational skills relevant for the 21st century, creating prosperity and equal opportunity for both male and female learners.
UPSA–E4Impact MBA in Entrepreneurship.
In yet another example of the importance of training in Italy’s approach to cooperation, UPSA (University of Professional Studies Accra), the Catholic University of Milan, and E4Impact have joined forces to offer in Ghana the Global MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
UPSA is an acclaimed public university in Ghana and one of the region’s leaders in combining academic studies with professional certification. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Milan, on the other hand, is the largest private university in the European Union, with over 40,000 students, 1,650 faculty members, 5 campuses, 78-degree programs, and 79 research centers. E4Impact is the spin-off of the Catholic University of Milan aimed at growing entrepreneurs in Africa. On behalf of Università Cattolica, E4Impact manages 17 MBA programs in entrepreneurship in Africa, with over 2,000 entrepreneurs accelerated through such programs since 2010.
To offer the MBA in Impact Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana, the two organizations have developed together a training and acceleration program uniquely designed to support Ghanaian entrepreneurs to start and grow their business in the country and beyond. The partners have selected faculty, business experts, and mentors from Ghana, Italy, and the United States, and the programme is fully recognized by the National Accreditation Board.
The MBA is uniquely designed to support active and aspiring entrepreneurs in boosting their businesses. Its distinctive features include the following:
• It combines excellent training with business acceleration services;
• All training is designed to transfer tools necessary for entrepreneurs to grow their business;
• Business acceleration services include: access to investors, coaching, networking, trips to Italy;
• The MBA also gives entrepreneurs access to a network of professionals who can further support participants;
• The MBA offers all participants and alumni access to a B2B platform to do business across Africa;
• The best entrepreneurs doing the MBA have the chance to interact with Italian businesses to go international;
• The best 3 entrepreneurs across Africa win a monetary prize;
• The MBA adopts a flexible program that combines face training, online work, and networking; and
• The MBA offers two degrees, one from the UPSA and the other from the Università Cattolica.
Anybody who holds a first degree in any discipline and who has a business or a project to start a business can apply for the MBA.
As of today, the MBA has graduated 2,000 entrepreneurs across Africa. Among these graduates, 87% increase their sales; 85% start yet another business; 81% increase their turnover, and 31% access funds within 1 year after completing the MBA.
In Ghana, the MBA has already trained more than 150 entrepreneurs. These include Bola Ray, founder of Excellence in Broadcasting and Starr Radio; Stephen Eku, founder of Emigoh, the company manufacturing Yommi Yogurt; Amin Sulley Abubakar, founder of ZaaCoal, Africa’s largest organic charcoal plant; and Bobie Osei Ansah, founder of Farmer’s Hope, Ghana’s largest organic fertilizer producer.
Today, UPSA and E4Impact are offering 2 scholarships for the next edition of the MBA to Ghanaian companies participating in the Ghana-Italy Agribusiness Digital Lab project, https://ghana-italy.digital.ice.it. It is a unique opportunity to benefit from highly qualified training and mentorship for entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in the agro-food industry.
