Empowering Women and Reducing Poverty: Anowah Group’s Contribution and Commitment to Ghana’s TVET Sector
TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) is an essential aspect of any country’s development. The emphasis on technical education and practical skills training is essential to promote economic growth and create job opportunities. Anowah Afrique, a wholly owned Ghanaian garment manufacturing company, has recognized the importance of TVET and has been actively involved in promoting it. This vision is inspired by the CEO’s grandmother’s goodwill toward society. Hence, the organization’s name, Anowah, is dedicated to her.
The CEO of Anowah, Noble Catherine N.E.A. Coffie, FCIDA, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has been instrumental in the development and promotion of TVET in Ghana. She has set up enterprise training centers for technical and vocational training in several locations in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions as well as Nigeria, where they have made significant progress. She has also founded the Excellence Assurance Academy, which provides academic remedial sessions for both JHS and SHS in the country.
Ms. Coffie is also the founder of the Women Development Foundation (WDF), which provides capacity support for women and children as well as technical skills development for needy women and the socially excluded. WDF has over the years trained over 5000 needy and underprivileged girls in both technical and employable skills under the able leadership of Ms. Coffie. Anowah Afrique Company Limited (AAL), another subsidiary of the Anowah Group, is a state-of-the-art garment manufacturing company with an installed capacity of over 2500, mainly into the production of security, school, and hospital uniforms, bedsheets, pillowcases, and general work wear. AACL seeks to eradicate poverty and reduce the unemployment rate in the country, and as such, 99% of its staff are underprivileged women.
The organization has partnered with the government to ensure the program’s sustainability, and its impact is evident in the lives of the over 5,000 underprivileged girls trained by the Women Development Foundation (WDF). The Anowah Group’s commitment to supporting women and their families goes beyond technical and vocational training. The organization has a day nursery to support mothers with young children, where professional teachers and nurses cater to the children’s needs. Currently, the nursery and housing support about 300 of the underprivileged. The organization has also completed the first phase of a 1,000-capacity hostel building that will support the girls’ stay during their training.
Ms. Coffie’s efforts in promoting TVET have not gone unnoticed. She has won several awards over the years, including the Garment and Apparel Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the Entrepreneur’s Foundation Ghana in 2015 and 2017, the Country Winner in CEO Global’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government 2017 award, and the Most Respected CEO in Garment Manufacturing by the Ghana Industry CEO Awards in 2021.
The Anowah Group has partnered with EVE International on a number of designated projects to expand its reach and impact. The organization envisions becoming one of the most prominent in Africa and the world in 10 to 15 years. To achieve this vision, the Anowah Group is seeking partnerships with organizations and foundations to widen the range of sensitization and recruitment efforts to help more underprivileged individuals.
At Anowah, we understand the importance of TVET in promoting economic growth and job creation is at an unwavering length. The commitment to promoting TVET is evident in the support for the Women’s Development Foundation and the investment in state-of-the-art garment manufacturing facilities. Anowah Group leverages their knowledge and creativity to best meet the needs of their clients, and their expertise and strong network of strategic partners are at the very heart of their success.
In conclusion, we encourage other companies and organizations to support the promotion of TVET in Ghana and beyond. It is through such efforts that we can create a skilled workforce and promote sustainable economic growth.
