DTI, Mastercard Foundation graduate 1,593, artisans, SMEs

The Design and Technology Institute (DTI), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has successfully graduated and certified 1,593 Master Craft Persons (MCPs) and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners through its Precision Quality™ (PQ) program. This initiative is designed to enhance productivity, formalize businesses, and create dignified work opportunities within Ghana's informal sector.

The graduation ceremony, held in Accra under the theme 'Formalising the Informal Sector: Honouring Excellence in Skills, Enterprise and Transformation,' brought together government officials, industry leaders, development partners, community representatives, and the graduates themselves. The cohort comprised a significant majority of women, with 1,307 (82%) participants, alongside 286 men (18%). Notably, 68 Persons with Disabilities were also among the graduates, underscoring the program's commitment to inclusivity.

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Today is not simply about recognising skilled artisans and entrepreneurs. It is about helping businesses become visible, trusted and ready for larger opportunities. Formalisation enables enterprises to access finance, compete for contracts, create jobs and contribute more significantly to national development.

Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, emphasized that the graduation signifies more than just certificate presentation. She stated that the program aims to make businesses visible, trusted, and prepared for larger opportunities. "Formalisation enables enterprises to access finance, compete for contracts, create jobs and contribute more significantly to national development," she explained.

Drawing from her personal experience as a former carpentry apprentice, Ms. Swaniker highlighted the critical link between technical skills and robust enterprise systems. She noted that while skill is powerful, it becomes sustainable when supported by structure, documentation, and standards. As part of the program, 241 outstanding MCPs and SMEs received Business Scale-up and Apprenticeship Support Kits valued at $250 each, totaling an investment of $60,250. These kits are intended to strengthen businesses and expand their capacity to train apprentices, fostering skills transfer and youth employment.

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I started as an apprentice in a carpentry workshop and later registered my business as a one-woman enterprise. That decision opened opportunities that would otherwise have remained out of reach. Skill alone is powerful, but skill backed by structure, documentation and standards creates sustainable growth.