By Josephine Akari & Hannah Abugri
It is obvious Ghana needs to pay critical attention to the issue of unemployment, more especially, youth employment. Clearly, because Analysts have linked the issue of Youth Unemployment to insecurity. Analysts have pointed out that Unemployment is more likely to position young people as ready targets for terrorists and terrorism activities.
This is what has prompted the State Broadcaster, GBC to champion a National Conversation on Youth Unemployment. The Forum is dubbed ‘’Youth Unemployment, a threat to Ghana’s Security or Opportunity for Change?’’, It is a collaboration with the West Africa Center for Counter Extremism, WACCE.
GBC’s Director General Professor Amin Alhassan set the tone for the discussion where he said it is very critical to unearth the root causes of youth unemployment so as to proffer workable solutions to the problem. He said that is why GBC went round the country to collect data on what has been put together in a Documentary titled, Living in the Margins of Ghana, which clearly depicts that if people residing in the peripheries of Ghana are being denied access to a lot, then these issues need national attention.
”We want to focus on the causes of extremism. This event is targeted at bringing out issues of unemployment. We believe that it will help us target and look at sources, causes and the factors when it comes to extremist action. As a National Broadcaster, apart from youth unemployment, we think Ghanaians living on the margins of the counter should be given attention,” the DG stated.
Chairperson of the National Commission For Civic Education, Josephine Nkrumah underscored the need to foster entrepreneurship so that the youth can create opportunities for themselves.
”The National Commission for Civic Education, we have begun 2 major projects on terrorism and extremism. We have done a lot of activities that are youth-centered and youth focus to tackle unemployment and extremism. One of the activities is funded by the Ministry of National Security with a particular focus on the issue of secessionists in Ghana. The issue of national security is not an issue alone for the Ministry of National Security. When we adopt a people-centered approach to this we will be able to fight the issue of extremism”, Madam Nkrumah pointed out.
Addressing the challenge of youth unemployment clearly falls at the doorsteps of government. Youth and Sports Minister, Yussif said this is why government has committed to engaging with structures such as the National Employment Agency, adopting Technical Vocational and Education Training, TVET, and the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre(MASLOC), as well as the Ghana Enterprises Agency, through collaboration to find antidote to the menace.
“It’s not like there are no job opportunities for the Ghanaian youth. It is important for the government to engage the various youth agencies like YEA, National Board for Small Scale Industry in order to coordinate initiatives to provide jobs. Farming is the only means of survival for the majority of people in the Northern parts of the country. As the activity is seasonal, the youth once they are idle engage in extremism and violence. Ghana has the opportunity of hosting “Youth Connect Africa” with the purpose to bring the youth together to be able to network. It will help a Ghanaian youth to partner somebody in Rwanda or Nigeria”, the Minister stated.
The US Government has also been upbeat in supporting Ghana to address Youth unemployment, Ambassador Stephanie Sullivan said Ghana has no excuse, but, must be prepared to counter-terrorism by all means. Therefore opportunities must be created for the youth, so that they do not fall prey to terrorists and other unworthy activities that would mar their future.
