Ledzokuku MP Urges NAHEOG Graduates to Put Skills to Good Use

The Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku, Hon. Benjamin Nartey Ayiku, has urged graduates of the National Association for Heavy-duty Equipment Operators Ghana (NAHEOG) to put their newly acquired skills to good use, uphold safety and professionalism, and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development.

Hon. Ayiku, who was the Guest of Honour at the Association’s 11th Graduation Ceremony, encouraged the graduands to embrace discipline, responsibility and hard work as they transitioned into the world of work.

Dominic Kofi Eyiah, president of the Association of Heavy Duty Equipment Operators Ghana, called on religious organisations to complement their spiritual responsibilities with deliberate investments in technical and vocational skills training to help address youth unemployment and promote economic empowerment.

He said churches, mosques and other faith-based institutions had played significant roles in education, social welfare and community development, and could make an even greater impact by equipping young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

“Faith gives us hope. That is a gift we must never take for granted. But hope needs hands,” he said, stressing that addressing poverty required practical efforts to equip people to work, build and produce.

Mr. Eyiah cited biblical and Quranic teachings on diligence and skilled work, noting that effort, competence and productivity were consistent with the values promoted by both Christianity and Islam.

He called on religious leaders to invest in vocational training through the establishment of skills centres, provision of equipment and scholarships, mentorship programmes, and partnerships with industry to create employment opportunities for young people.

He said such initiatives could help bridge the gap between training and employment by connecting graduates with prospective employers and supporting them to become self-reliant.

Addressing the graduands, Mr. Eyiah emphasised that operating heavy-duty equipment, including cranes, excavators and forklifts, required not only technical competence but also a strong sense of responsibility for human lives and workplace safety.

“Behind every lift, a person is standing nearby who wants to go home to their family tonight,” he said, urging the graduates to uphold discipline, honesty and respect for safety regulations.

He noted that NAHEOG had equipped the graduands with skills relevant to construction sites, mines, ports and other industries that contributed to Ghana’s economic growth.

The 11th graduation ceremony, he said, demonstrated how technical and vocational training could transform lives by providing young people with opportunities to secure employment, build businesses and contribute to national development.

Mr. Eyiah further called for stronger collaboration among religious institutions, government, industry and training organisations to address unemployment and expand opportunities for skills development.

He urged the graduates to look beyond seeking jobs and consider how their skills could help them create value, establish businesses and support others.

“When faith meets skills, hope becomes opportunity. When opportunity meets discipline, lives are changed. And when changed lives serve the nation, Ghana grows,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University, Dr. Jethro Brooks Jnr.  Encouraged stakeholders to work together to empower young people, adding that no single institution could address unemployment and economic challenges alone.

The ceremony brought together religious leaders, industry representatives, parents, guardians, instructors and graduands to celebrate the successful completion of training by the 11th graduating class of NAHEOG.

The event highlighted the importance of technical and vocational education in addressing unemployment, strengthening Ghana’s workforce and supporting industrial development.