Empowering Ghana’s Youth: An integrated approach to tackling unemployment

Humanics lab is a training and development UK-Ghanaian with presence in Nigeria, an organisation interested in young people development and interested in offering alternative and solution focused approaches to the problems youth unemployment.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the youth unemployment rate was 12.6% in 2019, higher than the national average of 8.4%. Moreover, many young people are underemployed or engaged in informal and low-productivity sectors.

The causes of youth unemployment are complex and interrelated, including factors such as inadequate skills matching, limited access to finance, lack of entrepreneurial opportunities, and a growing youth population. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting not only individuals’ economic prospects but also having social implications such as increased crime rates and social unrest.

Addressing youth unemployment is crucial for Ghana’s sustainable development. Failing to engage the youth population in productive economic activities could lead to missed opportunities for economic growth, hindered innovation, and an overall decrease in societal well-being.

Several initiatives have been implemented in Ghana to address this issue, but they have limitations and challenges. This article proposes an integrated service that combines the strengths of existing programs and offers a holistic approach to youth employment and entrepreneurship.

Existing Initiatives and Programs

The government of Ghana has launched several initiatives to tackle youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship. Some of the notable ones are:

• The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) – This is a public agency that focuses on creating job opportunities for young people through various initiatives, such as the Community Police Assistant program, the Youth in Sanitation program, and the Youth in Agriculture program. The YEA aims to provide temporary employment for young people while equipping them with skills and experience for future employment.
• The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) – This is a flagship program that aims to provide financial and technical support to young entrepreneurs. The NEIP offers business development services, training, mentoring, and access to funding through grants or loans. The NEIP also facilitates access to market networks and incubation hubs for young entrepreneurs.
• The National Youth Authority (NYA) – This is a statutory body that coordinates and oversees youth development activities in Ghana. The NYA implements various programs, such as the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institute (YLSTI), the National Youth Volunteerism Program (NYVP), and the National Youth Week (NYW). The NYA also advocates for youth participation and representation in decision-making processes.

While these initiatives have shown promise, they also exhibit limitations. For instance, the YEA’s focus on specific sectors might not align with the evolving job market demands. NEIP, while supporting entrepreneurship, might lack coordination with broader employment strategies. Furthermore, challenges include issues related to funding, inadequate training, and limited access to market networks.

Proposal for an Integrated Service

An integrated service that consolidates the efforts of YEA, NEIP, NYA, and other related programs could provide a more effective solution. Humanics Lab recommends the service would offer a holistic approach to youth employment and entrepreneurship, combining four key components:

• Job placement – The service would match young people with suitable job opportunities based on their skills, interests, and preferences. The service would also provide career information advice and guidance to help young people make informed decisions about their future.
• Skill development – The service would offer training in relevant skills that are in demand in the job market, such as digital literacy, communication, and problem-solving. The service would also provide certification and accreditation for the skills acquired.
• Entrepreneurial training – The service would expose young people to entrepreneurial opportunities and help them develop business ideas, plans, and models. The service would also provide mentoring and coaching from successful entrepreneurs and experts.
• Access to finance – The service would facilitate access to funding for young entrepreneurs, either through grants, loans, or equity. The service would also provide financial literacy and management training to help young entrepreneurs manage their finances effectively.

Through this integrated service, young individuals would benefit from tailored career guidance, training in relevant skills, exposure to entrepreneurial opportunities, and easier access to funding. By merging the strengths of existing initiatives, the integrated service could offer a seamless transition for young people from education to employment, whether they choose traditional jobs or entrepreneurial ventures.

Benefits and Impacts

Implementing an integrated service could yield substantial benefits for the youth, the economy, and the society. Some of the expected benefits are:

• Enhanced employability – The service would improve the employability of young people by equipping them with relevant skills and qualifications. This would increase their chances of finding stable and decent jobs.
• Increased awareness of entrepreneurship – The service would increase the awareness of young people about entrepreneurship as a viable career option. This would encourage more young people to pursue entrepreneurial ventures and create their own jobs.
• Improved access to financing – The service would improve the access of young entrepreneurs to financing, which is often a major barrier for starting and growing a business. This would enable more young entrepreneurs to launch and scale their businesses successfully.
• Contribution to innovation – The service would contribute to innovation by fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving among young people. This would lead to the development of new products, services, and solutions that address the needs and challenges of the society.
• Creation of job opportunities – The service would create job opportunities by supporting young entrepreneurs who start and grow their businesses. This would generate employment for themselves and others, especially in sectors that have high potential for growth and social impact.
• Alleviation of social problems – The service would alleviate social problems by engaging young people in productive economic activities. This would reduce the risks of youth involvement in crime, violence, and extremism.

Recommendations

To implement the integrated service effectively, the following recommendations are suggested:

• Policy alignment – The integrated service should align with broader economic and social policies that support youth employment and entrepreneurship. This would ensure coherence and consistency in the objectives and outcomes of the service.
• Stakeholder collaboration – The integrated service should foster collaboration among various stakeholders, such as government agencies, private sector organizations, educational institutions, and NGOs. This would ensure comprehensive and coordinated support for young people.
• Tailored approaches – The integrated service should recognize the diversity of youth needs and preferences and develop personalized approaches for different segments, whether they seek employment or entrepreneurship.
• Monitoring and evaluation – The integrated service should define key performance indicators and establish a robust data collection system to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness. This would ensure accountability and improvement of the service.

Conclusion

Youth unemployment is a serious challenge in Ghana that requires urgent attention. An integrated service that offers a holistic approach to youth employment and entrepreneurship could provide a viable solution.

By combining job placement, skill development, entrepreneurial training, and access to finance, the integrated service could empower young people to achieve their economic potential and contribute to the development of the country.

The writer is Baba Adams, UK based Policy Analyst

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