In the face of rising youth unemployment in Ghana, a ‘trotro mate’ has offered unconventional advice to the nation’s jobless youth.
He suggests that becoming a bus conductor, or ‘trotro mate,’ can be a more profitable and practical career choice compared to teaching.
“If you don’t have a job and are good with accounting and public speaking, attempt the trotro mate business. It will help you a lot. You don’t spend so much money. You are transported to your destinations for free just because you are a mate,” he stated, emphasizing the advantages of the job.
“I can on all authority say being a mate is better than teaching.”
This advice comes against the backdrop of alarming statistics from the African Development Bank (AfDB). According to the AfDB’s updated 2024 Africa Economic Outlook, Ghana’s youth unemployment rate reached 7.16% in 2023, with the issue being particularly severe among those aged 15 to 24.
The report underscores a significant gender disparity in youth unemployment rates, with female youth unemployment at a staggering 36.7% compared to 29.3% for their male counterparts.
The report also highlights a slight increase in multidimensional poverty, rising from 46% in 2017 to 46.7% in 2022. This trend is largely attributed to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which exacerbated economic challenges and limited job opportunities for young people.
Rising youth unemployment in Ghana has become a growing concern, leading to calls for intensified structural transformation.
The high unemployment rates among the youth, especially young women, necessitate urgent and innovative solutions to create sustainable employment opportunities.