Author: Nicholas Akussah || News Editor
The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with Plan International Korea, Plan International Ghana and Hyundai Motor Company (HMC), have launched the Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project, a five-year initiative aimed at strengthening Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and equipping young people with industry-relevant automotive skills.
The project was launched on Thursday, 3rd September, 2026 under the theme “Empowering the youth to drive Automotive Excellence in Ghana.”
The launch also marked the unveiling of the project’s new identity, Hyundai-KOICA NextGen. The initiative had been referred to as the Automotive Service Excellence and Youth Empowerment (ASEYE) Project during its development and preparation.
The Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project will strengthen the quality and relevance of automotive training, improve links between TVET institutions and industry, and create opportunities for young people to gain practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
A key component of the project is the development of maintenance technology education centers, which will provide enhanced training environments where young people can develop practical automotive skills and gain exposure to emerging technologiesincluding hybrid and electric vehicle technology.
The project will work closely with the Government of Ghana, including the Ministry of Education, Ghana TVET Service and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), as well as selected TVET institutions including Accra Technical Institute (ATI) East Legon and Ho Technical University (HTU).
The partnership brings together the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA, the Government of Ghana’s leadership and technical oversight in the TVET sector, Plan International Ghana’s experience in youth empowerment and skills development, and Hyundai Motor Company’s automotive industry expertise.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director-General of Ghana TVET Service, Engr. Dr. Eric Kofi Adzroe, said the project is timely as the world shifts to cleaner mobility, stressing that Ghana’s TVET system must evolve.
“This project could not be more timely. As the world accelerates towards cleaner and smarter mobility, Ghana must ensure that our Technical and Vocational Education and Training system evolves in step,” he stated. He noted that the project will modernise TVET through curriculum development, infrastructure and scholarships including emerging electric vehicle technology.
He highlighted progress made so far, including stakeholder engagements with CTVET, Ghana TVET Service, Ho Technical University and others.
“The review of the new Electric Vehicle alternative curriculum is well underway with completion targeted for November 2026 and formal launch in December 2026, while two maintenance and training hubs in Accra and Ho have been inspected and recommended, with construction to start by end of 2026 and completion by Q2 2027”. He disclosed.
The Minister, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu commended the partnership, saying the achievements reflect genuine collaboration.
“The achievements I have outlined today reflect the strength of genuine partnership between government, industry, and academia,” he said. He also assured KOICA, Hyundai and Plan International of the Ministry’s continued support and describing the project as an admirable example of forward-looking, industry-responsive training needed across the country.
Hyundai Motor Company Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Planning, Joongsun Ko, said the project reaffirms Hyundai’s commitment to technology talent development to strengthen Ghana’s automotive industry competitiveness, noting that through an updated curriculum on hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance, the company is equipping Ghanaian youth with future-ready skills to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s growth and positively impact thousands of young people and their communities.
“With the launch of this project, Hyundai Motor will continue its technology talent development program to strengthen the competitiveness of the automotive industry. Through an updated curriculum covering the latest developments in hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance, we are equipping Ghanaian youth with future-ready skills and empowering them to play a meaningful role in the continued growth of Ghana’s automotive industry. We look forward to seeing the lasting impact this project will have on thousands of young people and their communities.” He stated.
The Acting Director of Plan International Ghana, Mr. Frederick Tei-Nobi, described the launch of the Project as a milestone for automotive skills development in Ghana, centered on the theme, “Empowering the Youth to Drive Automotive Excellence in Ghana.”He said the project is built on the belief that Ghanaian youth have the potential to transform the economy if given the right support.
He explained that the automotive industry is evolving fast with electric mobility and digital diagnostics, requiring a more responsive TVET system. The Hubs of Excellence will make training more practical and industry-connected, but the goal goes beyond infrastructure.
“For Plan International Ghana, this partnership is closely aligned with our commitment to creating opportunities that enable young people to build secure, productive and fulfilling futures. We are proud to be part of this journey, and we look forward to working with all our partners to ensure that Hyundai-KOICA Nextgen delivers meaningful and sustainable results.” – Frederick Tei-Nobi, Acting Country Director, Plan International Ghana
The Acting Director emphasized that the NextGen reflects strong partnership and thanked donors Hyundai Motor Company and the Government of Korea through KOICA, as well as Plan International Korea, the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Education, Ghana TVET Service, CTVET, ATI East Legon, Ho Technical University and other stakeholders. He highlighted that the project’s value lies in its impact on youth.
“It is about giving young people the confidence and competence to move from learning to employment, entrepreneurship and meaningful participation.” He said.
In closing, he said success will be measured by decent jobs created, stronger links between TVET and industry, and equal participation of young women and men. He urged young people to own the opportunity and not be limited by stereotypes. Framing it as just the beginning, he called for sustained collaboration.
The five-year NextGen project, running from April 2026 to December 2030, will be implemented in three regions; Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern, focusing on strengthening institutional capacity, improving training facilities and curricula, enhancing industry engagement and expanding opportunities for young people, including young women, to access quality automotive skills development.
About the Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project
The Hyundai-KOICA NextGen Project is a five-year initiative implemented by Plan International Korea and Plan International Ghana in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project aims to strengthen Ghana’s TVET system and equip young people with industry-relevant and future-ready automotive skills through improved training infrastructure, institutional capacity, industry partnerships and exposure to emerging automotive technologies.
About Plan International
Plan International Ghana is part of Plan International, an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. Plan International works with children, young people, communities and partners to address the root causes of inequality and create lasting change.
About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision of ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation beyond mobility through advanced robotics and physical AI.
The company invests in new technologies to bring about revolutionary solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai Motor will continue its commitment to carbon reduction as a full lineup provider with industry-leading ICE, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
