National Vocational Training Act, 1970 Act 342 (Revised Edition)

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
ACT 351
NATIONAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING ACT, 1970
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Establishment of Institute
SECTION
1. Establishment of National Vocational Training Institute.
2. Offices of the Institute.
3. Functions of the Institute.
4. The Board.
5. Meetings of the Board.
6. Committees of the Board.
7. Administiation and staff.
8. The diiectoi of the Institute.
9. Superannuation of employees.
Financial Provisions
10. Funds of the Institute,
11. Gifts.
12. Estimates of income and expenditure.
13. Accounts and audit.
14. Annual report.
15. Powers of the Minister.
Miscellaneous
16. By-laws of the Institute.
17. Exemption from taxes and rates.
18. Repeals and revocation.
19. interpretation.
20. Commencement.
ACT 351
NATIONAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING ACT, 1970'
AN ACT to establish a National Vocational Training Institute to co-ordinate at the
national level all aspects of vocational training including apprenticeship, and to
provide for related matters.
1. 'I he Act was assented to on 12th January, 1971.
VI-1551 (Issue 1]

ocational training including apprenticeship, and to
provide for related matters.
1. 'I he Act was assented to on 12th January, 1971.
VI-1551 (Issue 1]

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
Establishment ofInstitute
1. Establishment of the National Vocational Training Institute
(1) There is hereby established a body corporate to be known as the National Voca
tional Training Institute. (2) The Institute shall have perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and
be sued in its corporate name. (3) The Institute may, for and in connection with its functions under this Act, pur
chase, hold, manage and dispose of property and may enter into contracts and any other
transactions that are expedient. (4) The common seal of the Institute shall be kept in the custody determined by the
Board, and shall not be affixed to a document or an instrument except by order of the
Board, and in the presence of two members of the Board, who sign the document or
instrument independently of the signatures of a person who may have signed the docu
ment or instrument as a witness. 2. Offices of the Institute
(1) The head office of the Institute shall be at Accra. (2) The Institute may open branch offices in the Regions for the performance of its
functions under this Act. 3.

e of the Institute shall be at Accra. (2) The Institute may open branch offices in the Regions for the performance of its
functions under this Act. 3.

Functions of the Institute
(1) The functions of the Institute are,
(a) to organise apprenticeship, in-plant training and training programmes for
industrial and clerical workers, and to train the instructors and training offi
cers required for that purpose;
(b) to provide for vocational guidance and career development in industry;
(c) to develop training standards and trade testing;
(d) to initiate a continuing study of the country’s manpower requirements at
the skilled worker level;
(e) to establish and maintain technical and cultural relations with international
organisations and any other foreign institutions engaged in activities con
nected with vocational training; and
(f) to do subject to this Act, the things that are conducive to the attainment of
the objects of the Institute. (2) The Institute shall, in the performance of its functions, have financial and admin
istrative autonomy. 4. The Board
(1) The governing body of the Institute is a Board consisting of
(a) a person of recognised standing and experience in administration and
industrial training as the chairman,
[Issue I] VI -1552

a Board consisting of
(a) a person of recognised standing and experience in administration and
industrial training as the chairman,
[Issue I] VI -1552

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
(b) the Director of the Institute,
(c) two members representing the Trades Union Congress,
(d) two members representing the Employers’ Association,
(e) the chief technical education officer, Ministry of Education, and
() two other members. (2) The chairman and the other members of the Board shall be appointed by the
President in accordance with article 70 of the Constitution. (3) The chief labour officer and the chairman of the Manpower Board may be ap
pointed members of the Board under this section and if they are not appointed they may
attend and participate at the meetings of the Board but shall not vote on a matter for
decision before the Board. (4) Omitted.2
(5) The Board shall elect from among their number a person, other than the director,
to be vice-chairman of the Board. (6) A membe, other than the director, shall hold office for the period, not exceeding
three years, specified in the instrument of appointment. (7) The chairman may resign from office by notice in writing addressed to the Minis
ter for transmission to the President. (8) A member may resign from office by notice in writing addressed to the chairman.

ting addressed to the Minis
ter for transmission to the President. (8) A member may resign from office by notice in writing addressed to the chairman.

(9) A member is eligible for re-appointment, unless that member ceased to be a
member as a result of misconduct or removal. (10) A member may be paid the allowance or remuneiation determined by the Minister. 5. Meetings of the Board
(1) The Board shall meet at least once every three months for the despatch of busi
ness at the times and places decided by the Board. (2) The chairman may, and shall, at the request in writing of not less than five mem
bers, call an extraordinary meeting of the Board at the time and place determined by the
chairman. (3) The quorum at a meeting of the Board is five or a greater number as determined
by the Board. (4) The chairman shall preside at the meetings of the Board, and, in the absence of
the chairman, the vice-chairman, and in the latter’s absence, a member elected by the
members present shall preside at the meeting. (5) Questions proposed at a meeting of the Board shall be determined by a simple
majority of the membeis present and voting and where the votes are equal the person
presiding shall have a casting vote. 2. But incorporated in paragraph (a) of subsection (1). VI -1553 [Issue 1]

d where the votes are equal the person
presiding shall have a casting vote. 2. But incorporated in paragraph (a) of subsection (1). VI -1553 [Issue 1]

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
(6) The Board may request the attendance of a person to act as adviser at a meeting
of the Board and that person while attending shall not vote on a question for determi
nation by the Board but the presence at the meeting of that person shall not count towards
the constitution of a quorum. (7) The validity of an act of the Board shall not be affected by a vacancy among its
members or a defect in the appointment of a member. (8) Subject to this section the Board may regulate its own procedure. 6. Committees of the Board
(1) The Board may appoint committees consisting of a number of persons, whether
members of the Board or not, that it thinks fit to perform, or advise the Board on the
performance of a function under this Act. (2) A member of the Board shall be appointed chairman of the committee. 7. Administration and staff
(1) The Board shall, subject to this Act, have the sole management of the property,
income, funds and affairs of the Institute. (2) The Institute shall have a director and a deputy director.

, have the sole management of the property,
income, funds and affairs of the Institute. (2) The Institute shall have a director and a deputy director.

(3) The director and the deputy director shall be appointed by the President, in ac
cordance with article 195 of the Constitution and shall hold office on the terms and
conditions prescribed in the instrument of appointment. (4) Subject to article 195 of the Constitution the Board may employ, on the terms and
conditions determined by the Board, the persons required for the proper and efficient
performance of the Board’s functions. (5) The Board may delegate to the director the power to appoint persons to posts that
are designated by the Board. (6) An appointment under a subsection (5) shall be submitted to the Board for approval. 8. The director of the Institute
(1) The director is the principal technical and administrative officer of the Institute
and shall,
(a) exercise authority and general control over the technical and administrative
staff of the Institute,
(b) co-ordinate and implement the training programmes of the Institute in
accordance with the general policy of the Board, and
(c) submit to the Board progress reports on the projects of the Institute.

es of the Institute in
accordance with the general policy of the Board, and
(c) submit to the Board progress reports on the projects of the Institute.

(2) In the absence of the director, the deputy director shall act until the director re
sumes office or a new director is appointed. (Issue 1] VI -1554

2) In the absence of the director, the deputy director shall act until the director re
sumes office or a new director is appointed. (Issue 1] VI -1554

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
9. Superannuation of employees
(1) The Board may, after consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance,
grant, subject to the Social Security Act, 19913 and in accordance with rules made in that
behalf by the Board, pensions, allowances, gratuities or retiring awards to the employees
of the Board to whom the Pensions Act applies.4
(2) The Board may require those employees to contribute to a pension, provident
fund or superannuation scheme. Financial Provisions
10. Funds of the Institute
(1) The funds of the Institute include
(a) the grants received from the Government for the performance of its
functions,
(b) the loans granted to the institute by the Government,
(c) the grants received from the United Nations Special Fund or from any other
international organisation,
(d) the moneys accruing to the Institute in the course of the performance of its
functions under this Act, and
(e) gifts. (2) The assets and liabilities of the Apprentices Board, dissolved by this Act, are
hereby transferred to the Board. 11. Gifts
A gift intended for the Institute or for a project of the Institute shall be made directly
to the Institute. 12.

y transferred to the Board. 11. Gifts
A gift intended for the Institute or for a project of the Institute shall be made directly
to the Institute. 12.

Estimates of income and expenditure
(1) The Board shall prepare estimates of income and expenditure for each financial
year and submit them through the Minister for approval by the Parliament. (2) The Minister shall approve, amend or recommend changes in the estimates sub
mitted under subsection (1). (3) The Board shall ensure that funds approved by the Government in pursuance of
this section are employed solely for the purposes for which they were approved and in
accordance with the financial regulations of the Institute. 13. Accounts and audit
(1) The Board shall keep proper books of accounts and proper records in relation to
the accounts, in the form approved by the Auditor-General. 3. P.N.D.C.L. 247. 4. Cap. 30 of the 1951 Edition of the Laws of the Gold Coast. VI -1555 (Issue 1]

unts, in the form approved by the Auditor-General. 3. P.N.D.C.L. 247. 4. Cap. 30 of the 1951 Edition of the Laws of the Gold Coast. VI -1555 (Issue 1]

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
(2) Subject to the directions as to form given by the Auditor-General, the Board shall
prepare, in respect of each financial year, a statement of account which shall include
(a) a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenditure and a statement of
surplus containing the information which, had the Board been a company
registered under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179), would be required to
be laid before the company by the directors at an annual meeting, and
(b) any other information in respect of the financial affairs of the Institute
required by the Minister. (3) The Board shall submit to the Minister as required by the Minister a report of the
Board’s financial affairs. (4) The books and accounts of the Institute shall be submitted for audit to the Auditor
General within six months after the end of the financial year. (5) The Board shall, as soon as practicable, forward to the Minister a copy of the au
dited accounts and the Auditor-General’s report. (6) Spent.5
14.

(5) The Board shall, as soon as practicable, forward to the Minister a copy of the au
dited accounts and the Auditor-General’s report. (6) Spent.5
14.

Annual report
(1) The Board shall, not later than seven6 months after the end of each financial year,
submit an annual report to the Minister in the form prescribed by the Minister which shall
include the statement of account specified in section 13 (2), and the Minister shall as soon
as practicable lay the report before Parliament. (2) The audit report of the Auditor-General shall be included in the annual report of
the Institute and the annual report of the Institute shall be published in the manner deter
mined by the Minister. 15. Powers of the Minister
The Minister is responsible for the Institute, subject to this Act. Miscellaneous
16. By-laws of the Institute
(I) The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make by-laws not inconsistent
with this Act for the purpose of regulating the Institute’s business or a matter falling
within the scope of the Institute’s functions. (2) The Board may in particular make by-laws to
(a) govern employers of apprentices in an industry and the apprentices of those
employers;
5.

nctions. (2) The Board may in particular make by-laws to
(a) govern employers of apprentices in an industry and the apprentices of those
employers;
5.

The subsection provided that:
“For the purposes of this subsection, the period extending from the commencement of this Act to the end of
the current financial year shall be deemed to be a financial year.”
6. Amended from “six” to “seven” to accord with section 13, in view of the change from “three months” to
“six months” in subsection (4) of section 13 in conformity with article 187 of the Constitution. [Issue 11 VI -1556

the change from “three months” to
“six months” in subsection (4) of section 13 in conformity with article 187 of the Constitution. [Issue 11 VI -1556

ACT 351
National Vocational Training Act, 1970
(b) govern any other matters relating to apprenticeship between the employers
and apprentices, but the by-laws shall not apply to
(i) seamen,
(ii) students of a university, university college or any other educational
institution who are exempted from this Act by executive instrument
in the form of an order made by the Board, or
(iii) other apprentices belonging to a class or description who are ex
empted from this Act by that instrument;
(c) specify penalties and fines for breach of the by-laws; and
(d) provide for the payment of fees or charges the Board considers appropriate. 17. Exemption from taxes and rates
The Institute is exempted from tax imposed under the Internal Revenue Act, 2000
(Act 592), the Customs and Excise legislation and the rates imposed by an enactment
relating to local administration. 18. Repeals and revocation
Spent? 19.

592), the Customs and Excise legislation and the rates imposed by an enactment
relating to local administration. 18. Repeals and revocation
Spent? 19.

Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
“by-laws” means by-laws made by the Board;
“Board” means the Board constituted under section 4;
“chairman” means the chairman of the Board;
“Institute” means the National Vocational Training Institute established under
section 1;
“member” means a member of the Board;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for Labour and Co-operatives. 20. Commencement
Spent? 7. The section provided than
“(I) The Apprentices Act, 1961 (Act 45) and the Apprentices Act (Amendment) Deciee, 1969
(N.L.C.D 364) are hereby repealed and the Board constituted under the said Act is, subject to the
proviso in subsection (3), hereby dissolved. (2) The Apprentices Board (Functions) Instrument, 1961 (E.I. 107) is hereby revoked. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall not have effect with respect to the dissolution of the said
Board until immediately before the first meeting of the Board under this Act.”
8. The section appointed the 23rd day of October 1968 as the date for the coming into operation of the Act
subject to section 16 of the Act. VI-1557 [Issue 1]