The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called for a reorientation of Ghana’s educational system to emphasise innovation and entrepreneurship as a way to address the country’s growing youth unemployment.

He said the current structure of the education system largely prepares students to seek employment instead of equipping them to create jobs.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah made the call at the launch of the Volta Youth Development Fund in Ho on Saturday, March 7.

According to him, Ghana’s unemployment challenge has been worsened by the orientation of many educational institutions that train students mainly for employment in government or established organisations.

“In many developed countries, universities research societal problems and develop solutions that contribute to economic growth, but here most of our universities are training students mainly to seek employment,” he said.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that it was unrealistic to expect any government to employ all graduates entering the job market each year.

“It is simply not possible for any government to employ all graduates coming out of our universities. Somebody must begin to create jobs and employment opportunities so that others can also be employed,” he said.

He described initiatives such as the Volta Youth Development Fund as important interventions that could support young people with innovative ideas to establish businesses and create employment.

According to him, placing everyone on the government’s payroll would not be sustainable, as the country’s limited tax revenue would be insufficient to support such a system.

Mr Asiedu Nketiah noted that it was unrealistic to expect any government to employ all graduates entering the job market each year.

“It is simply not possible for any government to employ all graduates coming out of our universities. Somebody must begin to create jobs and employment opportunities so that others can also be employed,” he said.

He described initiatives such as the Volta Youth Development Fund as important interventions that could support young people with innovative ideas to establish businesses and create employment.

According to him, placing everyone on the government’s payroll would not be sustainable, as the country’s limited tax revenue would be insufficient to support such a system.

Credit/CitiNews