By: Kwaku Mensah Abrampa | Ignewss—SUNYANI, Ghana
An educationist and discourse analyst, Mr. Ohene Kwarteng, has attributed the growing unemployment challenge among young people in Ghana to an economic environment that he says does not adequately support entrepreneurship and business growth.
Mr. Kwarteng, a lecturer at Sunyani Technical University, argued that many graduates leave universities with the knowledge and ambition to establish businesses but are constrained by limited access to capital and an economy that offers few opportunities for start-ups to survive.
He challenged the widely held perception that university education is intended solely to prepare students for public sector employment.
According to him, higher education is designed to develop critical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving skills that enable graduates to become entrepreneurs and employers rather than job seekers.
“University education broadens the mind and equips people with the knowledge to create opportunities for themselves and others. Not every graduate expects to work for the government,” he said.
Mr. Kwarteng noted that although many young graduates have viable business ideas, difficult economic conditions continue to discourage entrepreneurship.
He argued that if the country’s economy provided a more supportive environment for businesses to thrive, graduates would be better positioned to translate their knowledge into productive enterprises.
He rejected suggestions that academic qualifications become worthless when graduates fail to secure government employment, saying the problem lies not with education but with the broader economic environment.
“If the economy supports entrepreneurship and creates opportunities for businesses to grow, there would be no reason to describe any academic qualification as useless,” he stated.
The educationist also called on political leaders to place greater emphasis on creating opportunities for young people rather than making promises that cannot be fulfilled.
He said the unemployment challenge extends beyond university graduates, noting that many young people who have completed technical and vocational training also struggle to establish businesses because they lack access to start-up capital, equipment, and affordable working spaces.
Mr. Kwarteng urged the government to strengthen the national economy while increasing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to encourage more young people to acquire practical skills that can support self-employment.
He also appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to facilitate, rather than hinder, access to land for young entrepreneurs seeking to establish businesses after completing their training.
According to him, creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurship is essential to reducing unemployment and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Mr. Kwarteng further appealed to traditional authorities, religious institutions, philanthropists, and other influential members of society to play a more active role in addressing youth unemployment.
He urged chiefs to use community resources, including land, to promote local economic development instead of prioritising personal financial interests.
He also encouraged religious organisations to invest more in projects such as schools, hospitals, vocational centres, and other social enterprises capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people.
“The future of every nation depends on how well it invests in its young people. Creating opportunities for them should be a shared responsibility,” he said.
Mr. Kwarteng maintained that tackling youth unemployment requires coordinated efforts from government, traditional leaders, religious organisations, the private sector, and development partners to build an economy that enables young people to transform their education and skills into productive livelihoods.
SOURCE: www.ignewss.com