The Present Future

Few months ago, I wanted to study further in auto electrical / electronic and AI (artificial intelligence) in vehicles, as the modern-day automobile trends. So, I asked a few friends around for information. Few weeks later, my brother-friend Albert called and told me that, he heard an advert on radio that Takoradi Technical university is offering such a program so I should make more inquiry and sign up.

So, I called my former lecturer and told him that I would like to enroll. He said “Edmond, you have already read this course, why do you want to do it again? It’s for those who have never done it before.”

After I hanged up, I said to myself, so for all these after years of completing school, nothing has changed? The same old courses are being offered at the technical university.

In my research and online studies, I ask myself, what will be the future of the automobile industry in Ghana? Will we always be importing vehicles into the country? Will the quality of technicians being trained now be of standard to meet the demands of the new wave of cars?

So, what can we do right?

Formal Education System

Gone are the days when auto technicians learnt the trade at road side garages and some still do. Now, the concept of technical education has been well understood. Young people now study at the schools and practice at various garages either on weekends, after school or on vacations.

My issue is, with the new tech trends in the automobile industry, what knowledge are we feeding the present age technicians? With the increase in electric and autonomous vehicles, how do our technicians prepare for such a change?

Automobile dealerships in the country train their technicians on vehicles they sell in their showrooms but we know that 90% of vehicles on our roads are used-imported ones which are mostly serviced at wayside or individually owned garages. It is a known fact that, majority of technicians ply their trades at local garages or work on their own. How will they be competitive in their market segment in the next 10 to 15 years?

Institutions

Years ago, after I completed my tertiary education awaiting my national service posting, I spent 3 months at a road side garage to get more practical skills and to keep myself busy. There were times when used vehicles from Europe were brought in for maintenance and we  couldn’t              find our way around it. We had to use the trial and error method till we could find a solution and ended up creating another problem.

To the best of knowledge, there is the Ghana National Association of Garages and Ghana Skills Development Initiative who offer various courses and training programs to the vocational and technical education sector-good project of course. My question is, how they are helping the existing and already practicing technicians to bridge the knowledge gap between what they learnt years ago, current and future automobile trends. What are these associations doing differently from what they have done for years now?

There should be a conscious plan through their network of members associations to educate and train these artisans on new trends, technologies, tools and equipment being used in the industry. Not all the technicians will be able to finance and continue with formal education and upgrade at the polytechnics and technical universities again. If dealerships are able to do this, it shouldn’t be an issue for these institutions if they have the will and plan to do this.

Automobile Startups

Israel is known to be the birth place for Christianity and other religions but as at now, it is a startup hub for auto technology firms which receive millions of dollars in investment from multi-national companies to develop solutions and concepts for the automobile industry worldwide.

NIO, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacture was born out of a conscious effort from their government to look into the future of automobiles and compete with the west.

My question is, what’s happening in Ghana. What is the conscious plan in nurture such startups here to bridge the gap. There are young people scattered around the country doing wonderful things in the industry in their own small way. An example is solar taxi (solartaxi.co) who assemble solar-powered mini cars, scooters and tricycles. Is there any effort to grow these startups to usher the country into the next phase of the automobile industry.

In my behind the scenes preparations to kick-start my automobile start up (Flynt automobile), there seems to be little support for such entrepreneurs. Taxes, business registration hurdles and lack of funding. Anytime I explain to people that, a division of my startup will focus on auto tech, they look at me with a surprised face. The public appreciation is nonexistent.

The automobile industry is worth millions of dollars. It employs many people directly and indirect with dependent families. There must be a conscious effort to make sure that the key players are not phased out because of inevitable changes in the industry. 

About the Author

Edmond Nana Cabir Flynt is a vehicle sales advisor and consultant based in Takoradi - Ghana. He is also a volunteer, an entrepreneur, and an auto show radio presenter.

For further enquiry, consultation, advertisement, product promotion (vehicle related), vehicle and accessory sale, contact him on the following numbers +233(0)209461930 /+233(0)548383591 and email nanaflynt@gmail.com

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