Hyundai to launch Technical Training Center in Ghana

Hyundai Motor Company, in association with KOICA and PLAN Korea, plan to introduce a technical training center for automobile repair in a number of African and Asian nations, starting with Ghana. The project intends to facilitate young people in the under-developed areas support themselves.

Hyundai-KOICA Dream Centre, the repair training school in Koforidua, Ghana, is scheduled to open the shutters in September 2012 with a three-year program. The company will back the establishment in a comprehensive manner; from paying the teachers to developing the curriculum of the school. The school will admit 300 students, approximately and pass outs with good school records will be recruited at Hyundai Service Centres.

"Statistics available from the Ghana Statistics Service 2006 Report indicate that about 250,000 young people enter the labor market annually; they range from university graduates to junior high dropouts. Only 2 percent, or fewer than 5,000 Ghanaian youth, secure traditional employment. The rest are left to unemployment or unstable employment.

The cause of high unemployment among youth is the lack of employable skills needed by the job market. Most educational training curricula are not valued by the current job market. As such, the Hyundai-KOICA project has been designed to give youth employable skills," said the company statement.

The set up’s support programs and objectives are as follows:

1.    Establishing a technical training center and backing equipment for automobile repair training.

2.    Educating students and conducting placements for auto mechanics.

3.    Improving the skills and knowledge of existing auto mechanics.

4.    Creating skilled and literate mechanics.

5.    Enabling self-reliant poverty reduction through youth empowerment.

6.    Strengthening Hyundai/Korean and Ghanaian technical and cultural cooperation through Hyundai’s social contribution expertise.

Ground breaking ceremony for the opening of auto repair training school in Ghana :

-       Date : January 30, 2012

-       Venue : GRATIS Foundation premises, Koforidua

-       Attending dignitaries include:

Ambassador of Korea – H.E Kyun Jea-Min

The Eastern Regional Minister – Dr. Kwasi Akyem Appiah-Kubi

Resident Representative of KOICA – Kim So Young

African Regional Headquarters Representative of Hyundai Motor company – Lee Jang Ho

Executive director of GRATIS – Emmunuel Asiedu

National director of Plan Korea – Lee Sang Joo

Country director of Plan Ghana – Prem Shukla