Ghana’s Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, joined Peter K. A. Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, to inaugurate the Dr. J. Kofi Turkson Memorial Skills Development Centre in Nyanfeku Ekroful in the Central Region on Friday, August 22.
The centre, established in honour of Cardinal Turkson’s brother, Dr. J. Kofi Turkson, seeks to advance his legacy of dignity through vocational training and self-empowerment.
The modern facility is an accredited Competency-Based Training institution operating on an open access and open exit policy, designed to expand opportunities for young Ghanaians, particularly those from underserved communities. By equipping the youth with practical, employable skills, the Centre is expected to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s drive towards inclusive development.
The event attracted several dignitaries, including the Central Regional Minister who represented President John Dramani Mahama, the Archdiocese of Cape Coast led by Father Palmer Buckle, and Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, among others.
Both His Eminence Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson and Former President John Dramani Mahama’s speeches were deeply inspirational and they left the audience with renewed hope and a profound sense of possibility. When called upon, Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah highlighted the transformative role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), stressing that “TVET is crucial to the development of any country, Ghana not being an exception, and it remains a clear vision of President John Mahama.”
He drew parallels with Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea; countries that were at par with Ghana at independence but have since surpassed us largely because they invested heavily in TVET. With optimism, he declared that with President Mahama’s commitment to skills-based empowerment, “Ghana can and will rise to those same levels of progress and prosperity.”
Breaking the solemn tone with humour, Hon. Elvis lightened the atmosphere by quipping:
“Now, I pray that our prophets and seers will begin to have visions and prophecies about Ghana becoming like Malaysia and Singapore, not just death and calamities!”
The audience erupted in laughter, appreciating both the wit and the profound truth behind his words.
Finally, he addressed the curiosity around his title as Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, humorously noting that even the MC struggled with the word “ecumenical.” He explained that his office is dedicated to fostering unity among Christians, Muslims, and people of all faiths; not, as some mistakenly believe, a hub for “prophecies.” This clarification, delivered with warmth and humour, drew nods and applause from the gathering.
The inauguration of the Dr. J. Kofi Turkson Memorial Skills Development Centre stands as a beacon of hope for Ghana’s youth. The combined voices of Cardinal Turkson, President Mahama’s representative, Father Palmer Buckle, and Hon. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah among others reinforced a single message: that education, particularly skills training, is the key to dignity, opportunity, and national transformation.
As the Centre opens its doors, it carries the memory of Dr. J. Kofi Turkson while inspiring a new generation to dream, learn, and build a Ghana that can stand tall among nations.
