Give Young People Skills, The Systems To Create Jobs

Ghana’s youthful population presents both a challenge and an opportunity. As roughly 38% of the nation’s 35 million inhabitants, young people must be equipped with the necessary skills to create jobs and drive economic growth. Currently, Ghana requires about 300,000 new jobs annually to sustain this demographic surge. However, merely having a youthful populace is not enough; young Ghanaians must possess the requisite skills, resources, and market access to turn their potential into viable livelihoods.

Unfortunately, many face significant barriers, such as skills gaps, limited access to capital, and weak market linkages. Addressing these challenges is crucial, as having an entrepreneurial idea is not sufficient; young people must also have the technical, digital, financial, and market knowledge to succeed. This is where youth skills development becomes vital.

Skills not only enable young people to secure jobs but also empower them to generate employment, adapt to market changes, and build sustainable enterprises. For instance, Ayishetu Adam, a 30-year-old woman born with albinism, overcame systemic barriers through a skills training programme, acquiring hands-on expertise in soybean-based product production.

With newfound skills and resources, she now earns a sustainable income. Similarly, Salifu Suale, a 30-year-old person with disabilities, received support to connect with local mechanisation services, enabling him to expand his soybean production and retail business. These stories highlight the importance of inclusive skills development for all, regardless of background.

To fully capitalize on Africa’s youth dividend, development partners, governments, educational institutions, and the private sector must invest in skills alongside the systems that convert these skills into tangible economic value.