It is with profound sorrow and a deep sense of loss that members of staff of GTVETS pay tribute to the former Executive Director of the NVTI, Dr. Eng. Stephen Bismark Amponsah, whose passing has left a great void in the vocational education and training in the TVET fraternity. He dedicated nearly four decades to advancing technical and vocational skills development in Ghana, beginning as a Training Officer at the National Vocational Training Institute in Abetifi. Through key roles in Assin Fosu as Production Unit Manager and Principal Manager, he strengthened institutional training systems and nurtured generations of skilled professionals. As Commissioner for Trade Testing, he played a vital role in enhancing the credibility of skills certification.

Indeed, the NVTI was the fulcrum around which the GTVETS was built, and he played a leading role in its establishment. He held various positions in the institute and crowned it all with his appointment as the Executive Director from 2007 and 2017. He provided transformative leadership that elevated the TVET sector nationwide. During his tenure as Executive Director of NVTI, he demonstrated remarkable commitment to the advancement of vocational skills development, institutional excellence, and workforce empowerment. His visionary leadership inspired transformative initiatives that strengthened the Institute's capacity to deliver quality competency-based training and assessment. Dr. Eng. Amponsah was an exceptional leader, a distinguished educationist, and a passionate advocate for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ghana.

He was a man of integrity, humility, and unwavering dedication to public service. His leadership style fostered teamwork, professionalism, and innovation, earning him the admiration and respect of colleagues, industry partners, and all who had the privilege of working with him. He believed in the potential of every individual and tirelessly championed opportunities for young people to acquire employable skills that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development. With his wide range of experience and expertise in TVET, he was able to steer the affairs of NVTI to be a leader in that sub sector. He superintended over the training of over 200 hundred Nigerian militants from the Niger Delta by the NVTI equipping them with various vocational and technical skills, beside other numerous training programmes held for various Non-Governmental Organizations. He extended his impact beyond Ghana by developing training programmes for Liberian refugees, supporting their integration in Ghana. He also provided technical and vocational skills training to young people in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, empowering them with sustainable livelihoods. Through these efforts, he touched and transformed many lives across the region.

Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Dr. Amponsah was a mentor whose wisdom, encouragement, and guidance shaped the careers of many officers within the Institute. His approachable nature and willingness to listen made him not only a respected leader but also a trusted colleague and friend.The legacy of Dr. Amponsah continued to resonate even after he had left through the growth and achievements of NVTI. The systems he strengthened, the policies he championed, and the culture of excellence he promoted remained enduring pillars upon which the Institute stood. His contributions to the development of Ghana's TVET sector will be remembered for generations.

Although death has taken him from our midst, his life reminds us that true leadership is measured not merely by the positions held but by the lives touched and the lasting impact made. Dr. Eng. Amponsah's commitment to excellence, service, and nation-building will forever remain an inspiration to all in TVET development in Ghana.On behalf of the Management, Staff, and the entire GTVETS family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, the entire Amponsah family, and all who mourn his passing. We pray that God grants them strength, comfort, and peace during this difficult time. As we bid farewell to our former Executive Director, we do so with gratitude for his invaluable service and with the assurance that his legacy will continue to inspire the pursuit of excellence in technical and vocational education and skills development in Ghana and the Sub-Sahara region.

Rest well, Dr. Eng. Stephen Bismark Amponsah. Your dedication, vision, and exemplary leadership will forever remain etched in the history of TVET in Ghana.

May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Damirifa due! Due ne amanehunu!