Accra Technical University (ATU), in partnership with Abrantie College, has launched a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Paramedical Trichology to provide professional training in hair and scalp care.
The programme was launched on Thursday, 27 August 2026, at ATU. It is a three-year, Level 5 competency-based qualification developed with guidance from the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body.
The programme combines scientific knowledge with practical training. Students will learn how to assess hair and scalp conditions, provide appropriate non-medical care and refer cases that require medical attention to qualified health professionals.
It also creates a formal academic progression route for more than 8,000 cosmetologists and beauty practitioners who previously had limited opportunities to pursue higher education in their specialised field.
Academic leaders, regulators, industry partners and beauty and wellness professionals attended the media launch to welcome the programme. The initiative is expected to help professionalise hair and scalp care and support Ghana’s ambition to become a leading centre for specialised beauty and wellness education in Africa.
Strengthening academia-industry collaboration
Speaking at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, said tertiary education must respond directly to the needs of industry and prepare students for available opportunities.
He explained that the programme would provide a structured academic pathway for practitioners in hair and scalp care, which has largely depended on informal and short-term training.
According to him, the partnership brings together ATU’s academic standards and quality assurance systems with Abrantie College’s practical experience in the beauty and wellness industry.
Prof. Acakpovi also called on the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body to work towards establishing a professional regulatory body within the next three years. He said this would help maintain ethical standards and ensure that practitioners have the required skills and competence.
Practical Training and Industry Experience
The Head of the Department of Fashion Design and Textiles, Dr. William Kwesi Senayah, said the programme would combine classroom teaching with extensive practical training. Students will learn with appropriate tools and equipment under experienced lecturers, while industry professionals will support specialised lessons and share current practices. Internships will also give students practical exposure in professional settings and prepare them for employment after graduation.
Creating opportunities for practitioners
The Head of Abrantie College, Mr. Brian Obempong, said the beauty and wellness industry had often been viewed as a field limited to lower-level qualifications.
He noted that although Abrantie College had trained thousands of cosmetologists over the past decade, many practitioners did not have a clear route to advance academically. He described the partnership with ATU as an important step towards changing that situation.
Mr. Obempong said the global hair and scalp care industry was valued at over $90 billion, while scalp conditions affected more than 60 per cent of adults. He indicated that graduates of the programme could work in research centres, specialised hair and scalp care facilities, private practices and other related settings.
Government pledges support
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, the Director of TVET, Ms. Rejoice Danquah, described the programme as an important contribution to national development.
She said Technical and Vocational Education and Training plays a central role in promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and employment.
Ms. Danquah reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building a TVET system that allows learners to progress from one qualification level to another without reaching an educational dead end.
She encouraged the pioneer students to uphold high professional standards, explaining that their performance would influence the development of similar specialised TVET programmes in Ghana.
More specialised programmes underway
Representing the Chairperson of the Beauty and Wellness Sector Skills Body, Dr. Grace Amey-Obeng, the Sector Secretary, Ms. Winnifred Dake, announced that additional specialised curricula had been developed.
She identified the proposed programmes as Paramedical Aesthetics, Health and Wellness, and Beauty Products Manufacturing.
Ms. Dake assured ATU management that the Sector Skills Body was working towards establishing a formal regulatory authority for the industry. She said the new qualifications would allow Ghanaian practitioners to receive world-class technical education locally and strengthen Ghana’s position as a destination for specialised beauty, wellness and hair-health training in Africa.
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