By Kodjo Adams
Accra, Aug. 29, GNA – The Accra Technical University (ATU) has launched a new Higher National Diploma (HND) programme in Paramedical Trichology aimed at professionalising the study and management of hair and scalp conditions in Ghana.
The programme, developed by ATU, in partnership with Abrantie College, is expected to provide a structured academic and professional pathway for practitioners in an emerging field that has traditionally relied heavily on informal training, short courses and experiential learning.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, Professor Amevi Acakpovi, the Vice Chancellor of ATU, said the programme was designed to respond to changing industry and societal needs by combining scientific knowledge with practical skills.
The University, he said, could no longer focus solely on traditional occupations while new professions and economic opportunities continued to emerge.
“Our training has to respond to the needs of the market. We cannot continue to train young people only for traditional occupations while new professions and economic opportunities are emerging,” he said.
He explained that Paramedical Trichology brings together science, healthcare, beauty and wellness, technology and professional practice, with a focus on the scientific study and management of conditions affecting the hair and scalp.
The programme, he said, would equip students with the scientific foundation and practical competencies to understand hair and scalp health, identify common conditions and provide appropriate non-medical interventions.
He said practitioners would also be trained to recognise conditions requiring referral for qualified medical care.
The Vice Chancellor said the initiative was particularly important because many people suffered from hair and scalp-related conditions but often relied on products or practitioners without adequate scientific training.
He urged prospective students and existing practitioners to look beyond the traditional perception of the beauty industry and recognise trichology as a science-based and evolving professional field.
The Vice Chancellor also called for the establishment of a professional body to regulate the emerging field and promote competence, ethics and professionalism among practitioners.
Dr Clement Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, in a speech read on his behalf, said the programme had been accredited at Level Five of Ghana’s eight-level National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Qualifications Framework to response to an identified skills gap in the beauty and wellness industry.
The initiative was an example of how Ghana’s TVET system could respond to emerging occupations and areas of specialisation, he added.
“TVET is no longer an alternative. It is a powerful pathway to innovation and entrepreneurship, employment and national transformation,” Dr Apaak said.
He encouraged prospective students to take their studies seriously, develop their competencies, embrace innovation and maintain high standards of professionalism.
Dr Grace Amey Obeng, Chairperson, Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body, said Ghana could and should become a destination of choice for Africans seeking progressive education and professional development in the beauty industry.
She noted that historically, many Ghanaian beauty professionals had limited opportunities to progress academically and professionally after obtaining their first qualification.
“The new programmes are expected to help address that gap by creating opportunities for continuous professional development and specialisation without requiring professionals to look beyond Ghana’s borders,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Kodjo Adams [email protected]
