TIG Post

Tag: unemployment

  • I’m working with Foreign Minister to sign deals with countries needing Ghanaian labour to check unemployment – Dr Pelpuo

    I’m working with Foreign Minister to sign deals with countries needing Ghanaian labour to check unemployment – Dr Pelpuo

    Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has revealed that the government is crafting a deliberate strategy to export skilled Ghanaian labour to countries in need of workers, as part of a broader push to curb rising unemployment.

    Speaking on Joy FM, Dr. Pelpuo stated that Ghana is increasingly receiving requests from other nations for its workforce.

    “Beyond the domestic set, what we can do to tackle unemployment is to look at how we can export Ghanaian labour to places that require our labour force,” he said.

    He added that the Ministry is already engaging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to facilitate this agenda, ensuring that diplomatic channels support the labour export initiative.

    “What I am working on is to get the foreign minister to sign bilateral relations with all the countries needing Ghanaian labour, and I will sign agreements with companies that want to export the labour,” he stated.

    He emphasized that labour export must be well-coordinated and not left to individuals acting independently. According to him, a structured approach would not only reduce unemployment at home but also strengthen Ghana’s global ties and boost remittance inflows.

    “We are getting requests from other countries who want Ghanaian labour. If we are able to respond positively and properly coordinate this, it will help solve part of our unemployment challenge,” Dr. Pelpuo stressed.

    The initiative is part of a multi-pronged strategy by the government to enhance employment opportunities both domestically and internationally.

  • YEA, Labour Ministry, GIZ Ghana launch Work Abroad Programme to tackle unemployment

    YEA, Labour Ministry, GIZ Ghana launch Work Abroad Programme to tackle unemployment

    The Ministry of Labour, Jobs & Employment, in partnership with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and GIZ Ghana, has launched the Work Abroad Programme.

    The initiative seeks to address youth unemployment by facilitating access to jobs in various sectors beyond Ghana’s borders.

    The official launch took place on the evening of Tuesday, March 19, bringing together key stakeholders from government institutions, private sector players, and international organisations to discuss the programme’s framework and impact.

    The Work Abroad Programme is structured to equip Ghanaian youth with the essential skills, guidance, and support needed to secure overseas employment. Officials at the event highlighted its potential to empower participants with international exposure, enhancing their professional growth while contributing to national development.

    “This initiative is about creating opportunities, building brighter futures, and ensuring that our young people can thrive both locally and internationally,” YEA CEO Malik Basintale stated.

    The launch featured engaging discussions on the programme’s implementation strategy, expected benefits, and long-term sustainability. Collaboration with GIZ Ghana is expected to strengthen the initiative by leveraging global networks and expertise in workforce development.

    As the programme rolls out, young Ghanaians aspiring to gain international work experience are encouraged to explore the opportunities available. The government has reiterated its commitment to supporting participants throughout the process, reinforcing its vision of empowering youth and driving economic growth through global employment avenues.

  • Women unemployment should spur us to act – Mahama

    Women unemployment should spur us to act – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama has called for immediate action to address the high unemployment rate among women in Ghana.

    Speaking at the launch of the NDC Women’s Manifesto on Monday, September 30, 2024, Mahama emphasized the urgent need to tackle gender inequality, particularly in the informal sector, where the majority of women lack basic social protections.

    “Despite women’s significant contribution to our nation’s development, gender inequality remains pervasive, particularly in the informal sector, where 92% of workers are women, often without safety nets,” Mahama remarked.

    He highlighted the importance of this sector, which contributes between 30-40% of Ghana’s GDP.

    Drawing attention to statistics from the 2020 Census, Mahama revealed that poverty among women is disproportionately high. “This situation has exacerbated poverty among women, as highlighted by the 2020 Census, which indicates that of Ghana’s 7.3 million poor people, the majority—3.76 million—are women,” he stated.

    Mahama expressed concern over the fact that nearly 54% of unemployed people in Ghana are women, describing it as a national challenge. “Why should poverty have a female face in Ghana, with 1.44 million women classified as extremely poor and living on less than $1.90 a day? Why should poverty have any face at all?” he questioned.

    He urged that the alarming figures should not only be a wake-up call but also inspire action. “These numbers should not just shock us; they should spur us to act. Behind each number is a woman—perhaps a mother, a sister, or a daughter—who works tirelessly every day but still goes to bed hungry,” Mahama said.

    Highlighting the crucial role women play in society, he stated, “They are the backbone of our communities, yet they bear the heaviest burdens of inequality. This must change.”

    Mahama reiterated the NDC’s commitment to addressing these challenges through their Resetting Ghana Manifesto, with job creation being a top priority. “First and foremost, job creation is at the heart of our agenda,” he assured.

    The former president outlined the NDC’s plans to implement a 24-hour economy, which would create employment opportunities for Ghanaians. “The NDC will implement a 24-Hour Economy, creating opportunities for businesses to operate around the clock in three shifts. Instead of one person working one job as a singular shift, we shall now have, for the same job, three people working in three shifts,” he explained.

    He added that the initiative would lead to massive job creation and increased productivity. “Imagine the potential—thousands of new jobs created, productivity at an all-time high, and our nation reaping the benefits of a stronger economy,” Mahama said, assuring that young people and women, in particular, would benefit from this new approach.

    Mahama concluded by affirming the NDC’s dedication to alleviating unemployment and poverty, promising that Ghanaians “will no longer have to suffer for jobs like before.”

  • Ghana to record 4.0% unemployment rate in 2024 – Fitch Solutions

    Ghana to record 4.0% unemployment rate in 2024 – Fitch Solutions

    Ghana is expected to maintain an average unemployment rate of 4.0% throughout 2024, according to a recent report by Fitch Solutions.

    This rate is anticipated to hold steady in both 2025 and 2026, indicating a period of relative stability in the labor market.

    The report reveals that Ghana’s unemployment rate has been experiencing a gradual increase since 2017 and is projected to follow this trend in the foreseeable future. Key factors contributing to this issue include the country’s low life expectancy, which stands at approximately 64.3 years. This is linked to insufficient government expenditure on healthcare and a high prevalence of water-borne diseases and chronic illnesses like HIV/AIDS.

    Another critical challenge highlighted is the shortage of highly skilled workers in Ghana. This gap often necessitates the hiring of foreign talent to meet the demands of employers, further complicating the domestic labor market.

    On a broader economic scale, Fitch Solutions notes that Ghana, like many countries, is grappling with the residual effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Inflationary pressures are driven by both demand-pull and cost-push factors, prompting central banks globally, including Ghana’s, to enact some of the most rapid policy rate increases in history. This shift has reduced the value of debt accumulated during the low-interest rate period of 2015-2019.

    Despite reaching historic highs in household wealth, supported by strong equity market performance and rising property values, some property markets are showing signs of weakening. Additionally, the outlook for many companies is becoming increasingly negative.

    Fitch Solutions warns that if these economic trends persist, there could be a significant decline in consumer wealth, potentially leading to a sharp decrease in consumption.

  • I will launch National Apprenticeship Scheme to tackle unemployment – Mahama

    I will launch National Apprenticeship Scheme to tackle unemployment – Mahama

    The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, has unveiled plans to address Ghana’s unemployment crisis by implementing a National Apprenticeship Scheme if elected.

    During a large rally in Greater Accra on Saturday, July 20, where thousands of supporters marched through rain to the Nungua town park, Mahama outlined three major policies aimed at reshaping Ghana’s future.

    He emphasized that the new National Apprenticeship Scheme would provide vocational training for individuals who struggle academically but possess practical skills. This initiative is designed to bridge the unemployment gap and offer meaningful opportunities for those who do not pursue higher education.

    Mahama also announced the establishment of a Women’s Bank to support female entrepreneurs, recognizing their significant contribution to the economy.

    Additionally, he proposed the creation of a 24-hour economy to drive rapid economic growth.

    In his address, Mahama urged party members to vigilantly protect the ballot at polling stations and reassured them that his policies would benefit all Ghanaians who vote for the NDC.

    The party’s official campaign launch for the 2024 elections will takeNDC place in Tamale on July 27, marking the beginning of an intensive nationwide campaign.

    Mahama stressed that the National Apprenticeship Scheme is intended for those who may not excel in traditional education but have practical skills. He argued that not every student fits the conventional academic mold, and those who do not perform well in classrooms might still have valuable talents in hands-on trades.

    He highlighted that all individuals have inherent abilities and emphasized that providing free education only to some is inadequate.

    Instead, the National Apprenticeship Scheme will offer an alternative path for those who do not advance to higher education, equipping them with skills to secure employment and contribute to the economy.

    “The first is the National Apprenticeship Scheme. As I’ve said before, not all our children are induced with the same mental ability. You can have the same children sitting in the same class when the teacher teaches, one is able to catch it immediately and so you would think that he’s smart, he’s knowledgeable, he’s intelligent.

    “There’s another one who’s slow to learn and so we might do an exam, the sharp one will continue to the University and all that. But it doesn’t mean that the one who doesn’t catch it quickly does not have the talent God gave him.”

    ”Take those two; the one you say is slow and the one who’s smart and put them in an environment where they have to use their hands and you will find out that that other one is better able and more skilful than the one who gets A in class.

    “So, all our children have a talent that God gave them. So it cannot be that we give free education to one group to the university and yet when the others fall out, they are left to their faith. Not all of them can go to the TVET centres.”

    “So, our strategy will be to introduce the National Apprenticeship Scheme so that for those who cannot continue into tertiary education, they will be able to go into an Apprenticeship and learn a skill with their hands so they can also find work.”

  • Become a bus conductor, it’s profitable than teaching – ‘Trotro mate’ tells unemployed youth

    Become a bus conductor, it’s profitable than teaching – ‘Trotro mate’ tells unemployed youth

    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.

  • Having an unemployed youthful population is a timebomb – Mahama

    Having an unemployed youthful population is a timebomb – Mahama

    Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, has issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of neglecting Ghana’s youthful population, describing unemployment among the youth as a ticking timebomb.

    In a recent address during a visit to the La Dadekotopon constituency on July 5, Mahama highlighted the urgency of creating opportunities for Ghana’s youthful demographic to avert socio-economic unrest akin to recent disturbances in Kenya.

    Drawing parallels with decentralized protests in Kenya over tax hikes and political grievances, Mahama criticized the economic management under President Akufo-Addo’s administration. He emphasized the need for a transformative approach under the next NDC administration to address these challenges.

    “They say Africa’s population is youthful and it’s important to have a youthful population. But if you have a youthful population and you’re not creating opportunities for them, then it can become a timebomb,” Mahama cautioned.

    Mahama pledged that under the leadership of the NDC, there would be a concerted effort to implement robust economic policies aimed at creating numerous opportunities for Ghana’s youth.

    He vowed to depart from business-as-usual practices and swiftly address economic challenges he attributed to the policies of Vice President Bawumia and President Akufo-Addo.

    “The people of Ghana are looking at NDC to come and rescue them from the hardships in which they have been plunged…We will do things that will turn the economy around as quickly as possible,” Mahama affirmed.

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reported that Ghana’s youth unemployment rate reached 7.16% in 2023, with the issue being particularly severe among those aged 15 to 24.

    This information comes from the AfDB’s updated 2024 Africa Economic Outlook, which underscores a significant gender disparity in youth unemployment rates.

    According to the report, unemployment is notably higher among young women than their male counterparts. Female youth unemployment reached 36.7%, while the rate for males was 29.3%.

    The report also highlights a slight increase in multidimensional poverty, rising from 46% in 2017 to 46.7% in 2022, a trend largely attributed to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Rising youth unemployment in Ghana has become a growing concern, leading to calls for intensified structural transformation.

    The AfDB report points out that productivity in the services sector, the largest employer in the country, has stagnated. Meanwhile, gains in industry and agriculture have remained modest.

    The report notes a significant shift in employment shares across sectors. Agriculture’s share of employment fell from 53.9% in 2007 to 29.8% in 2019. In contrast, industry’s share increased from 14.1% to 21.0%, and the services sector saw its share rise from 31.9% to 49.2%.

    To accelerate Ghana’s structural transformation, the AfDB suggests several measures. These include enhancing competitiveness by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks, accelerating agro-industrialization through skills development and value addition, and bolstering private sector growth.

    Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for a robust policy framework to support technology adoption and innovation.

  • 2023 GNHDR report highlights 65% increase in youth unemployment in Ghana

    2023 GNHDR report highlights 65% increase in youth unemployment in Ghana

    The latest Ghana Human Development Report 2023 (GNHDR), published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reveals that youth aged 15-24 face disproportionately high unemployment rates, with a significant 65 percent experiencing joblessness.

    Released in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the report indicates that the informal sector comprises 75 percent of the workforce. Despite robust economic growth over the past decade, youth unemployment and underemployment persist as major challenges.

    This trend poses implications for the country’s long-term development goals and human development, underscoring the necessity for targeted interventions to tackle youth unemployment and foster inclusive economic growth.

    Themed ‘The Future Value of Work in Ghana: Pathways to Sustainable Jobs,’ the report was crafted through extensive research, collaboration, and nationwide consultations. It serves as a critical tool for policymakers, development practitioners, and stakeholders in formulating strategies for sustainable development.

    The report stresses the importance of bridging the gap between current opportunities and the future of work through strategic investments in human capital and infrastructure. This approach aims to create an enabling environment for sustainable job creation for all.

    It advocates for reimagining educational programs to incorporate STEM/STEAM education and entrepreneurial training, preparing youth for future job markets. Additionally, it recommends streamlining regulations and providing targeted training to formalize the informal sector, thereby generating more stable job opportunities.

    At the launch in Accra, Dr. Angela Lusigi, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, emphasized the necessity of investing in human capital and enhancing technology access for achieving long-term development goals and reducing unemployment.

    Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, Director-General of NDPC, highlighted that by investing in infrastructure and promoting entrepreneurship, Ghana can harness the potential of its youth and informal sector, driving socio-economic transformation and job creation.

    He announced plans to incorporate the report’s insights into the next medium-term national development policy framework, shaping strategic directions from 2026 to 2029.

    The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, stressed the report’s significance in understanding the intersection between work and human development. He urged stakeholders to adopt policies that foster inclusive growth and sustainable job creation, enhancing development plans across various levels of governance.

    “Development is not about numbers but people, however, de­velopment will not occur without statistics. Let’s communicate and own the report for sustainable development of the country,” he added.

  • 65% of Ghanaian youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are unemployed – GNHDR report

    65% of Ghanaian youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are unemployed – GNHDR report

    The latest Ghana Human Development Report 2023 (GNHDR) has unveiled alarming statistics regarding youth unemployment in Ghana, highlighting significant challenges in the country’s workforce dynamics.

    According to the report, a staggering 65% of young people aged between 15 and 24 are currently unemployed, posing a critical threat to Ghana’s future economic development.

    Released on June 26, 2024, in Accra by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the GNHDR underscores the stark reality faced by Ghanaian youth seeking stable and sustainable employment opportunities.

    The report also reveals that a substantial 75% of Ghana’s workforce operates within the informal sector, where jobs are often characterized by instability and low wages. This informal sector dominance further exacerbates the employment challenges, particularly for young people striving to secure meaningful livelihoods.

    During the report’s launch, Angela Lusigi, the UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, emphasized the urgent need for strategic investments in human capital, infrastructure development, and technology. These investments, she noted, are crucial for creating an enabling environment that fosters sustainable job creation, especially targeting the youth demographic.

    “Strategic investment in both human capital and infrastructure is crucial for Ghana to create a conducive environment for sustainable jobs for all,” Lusigi asserted.

    Echoing these sentiments, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, stressed the importance of inclusive growth policies aimed at fostering sustainable job creation across various sectors of the economy.

    “The report provides crucial insights. I urge stakeholders to adopt policies that foster inclusive growth and sustainable job creation,” Prof. Annim remarked.

    Additionally, Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, the Director-General of the NDPC, highlighted the imperative of formalizing the informal sector and streamlining regulatory frameworks to unlock the potential of Ghana’s entrepreneurial landscape.

    “By investing in infrastructure and promoting entrepreneurship, Ghana can harness the potential of its youth and informal sector,” Mensah-Abrampa affirmed.

    The GNHDR report also recommended integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) subjects into education curricula and providing entrepreneurial training. These measures aim to equip Ghanaian youth with essential skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and thrive in the evolving job market.

    Looking ahead, the report advocates for a comprehensive national long-term plan that prioritizes job creation, infrastructure development, and educational reform. These initiatives are pivotal in ensuring equitable access to decent work and improved living standards for all Ghanaians by 2030 and beyond.

    the_2023_ghana_national_human_development_reportDownload
  • Calamity will befall Ghana – Bagbin fears looming danger of youth unemployment

    Calamity will befall Ghana – Bagbin fears looming danger of youth unemployment

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed deep concern about the escalating issue of youth unemployment in Ghana, cautioning that this could have significant implications for the upcoming elections.

    Speaking before Parliament, Speaker Bagbin emphasized the pressing need for swift and decisive action from political leaders to tackle this critical challenge.

    He called for a united front to address the situation urgently, warning of severe consequences for the country if effective measures are not promptly implemented.

    “The joblessness, the homelessness and the hopelessness of the youth cannot be taken lightly. We must act together and now to prevent a journey to calamity or a journey of no return,” he stated.

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reported that Ghana’s youth unemployment rate was 7.16% in 2023, with a particularly acute issue among individuals aged 15 to 24.

    In its updated 2024 Africa Economic Outlook, the bank highlighted that unemployment was notably higher among women in this age group compared to men.

    The report also indicated a slight increase in multidimensional poverty, rising from 46% in 2017 to 46.7% in 2022, largely attributed to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Data revealed that female youth unemployment reached 36.7%, while the rate for males was 29.3%.

    The rising youth unemployment in Ghana has become a growing concern, leading to calls for intensified structural transformation.

    Speaker Bagbin also urged the government to restrict the military’s role in overseeing the upcoming election, emphasizing that their involvement should be limited to assisting the police only when necessary.

    “We don’t want to see the military during elections. When there is the need to call them, they will be called. But they should not be at polling or voting centres,” he added.

  • Youth unemployment rate from age 15 to 24 stood at 7.16% in 2023 – AfDB

    Youth unemployment rate from age 15 to 24 stood at 7.16% in 2023 – AfDB

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) indicates that Ghana’s youth unemployment rate was 7.16% in 2023, with the issue being particularly severe among individuals aged.

    The bank’s revised 2024 Africa Economic Outlook emphasizes that unemployment is notably higher among women in this age bracket compared to men.

    The report observes a slight rise in multidimensional poverty, increasing from 46% in 2017 to 46.7% in 2022, primarily due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The figures show that female youth unemployment reached 36.7%, while the rate for males was 29.3%.

    The increasing youth unemployment in Ghana is a growing concern, prompting demands for enhanced structural transformation.

    The report highlights that productivity in the services sector, the largest employer, has stagnated, while improvements in industry and agriculture remain minimal.

    Employment in agriculture dropped from 53.9% in 2007 to 29.8% in 2019.

    Conversely, the industry’s share rose from 14.1% to 21.0%, and the services sector’s share increased from 31.9% to 49.2%.

    The AfDB recommends several strategies to expedite Ghana’s structural transformation. These include improving competitiveness by resolving infrastructure challenges, accelerating agro-industrialization through skill development and value addition, and fostering private sector expansion.

    Furthermore, the report stresses the necessity of a strong policy framework to support technology adoption and innovation.

  • Gov’t to tackle unemployment by increasing investment in TVET

    Gov’t to tackle unemployment by increasing investment in TVET

    The government has announced its intention to increase the proportion of students pursuing Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) to 50% of all learners, as part of efforts to address the country’s unemployment rate.

    According to the Commission for Technical and Vocational Educational Training, there has been a significant increase in the number of Junior High School students pursuing TVET programmes at Senior High Schools. However, more efforts are needed to make the sector more attractive, especially to young people.

    Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director-General of the Commission, stressed the importance of Ghana embracing TVET, citing examples from countries like Germany, where 65% of learners pursue TVET.

    He highlighted the significance of dual training, which involves students combining workplace experience with traditional lectures.

    “The perception about TVET is international, it’s not only in Ghana. When we came first into government, the percentage of learners going into TVET in Germany was close to 70 percent. Now is about 65 so the Germans are looking for a new approach, advanced dual TVET, so you want to go to the university, that’s fine but it has to be dual training, so you go to the workplace three days and go for lectures two days because whether we like it or not, the TVET approach is what’s going to happen.”

    ”So, it’s about product. If you look at what we’ve done, moving from below 20,000 learners from junior secondary schools going to TVET to over 60,000 it is something significant. But have we gotten there yet? No! We are expecting that at Keats about 50 percent of our learners should be opting for TVET.”

    Janet Abobigo, Entrepreneur and CEO of Unijay Company Limited, welcomed the government’s initiative, noting that it will enhance Ghana’s TVET sector and create more job opportunities for the youth.

    She emphasized the significance of technical knowledge in industries and the potential for exporting goods to countries like the US.

  • Société Générale’s exit will worsen unemployment in Ghana – Dr. Atuahene

    Société Générale’s exit will worsen unemployment in Ghana – Dr. Atuahene

    Banking consultant Dr. Richmond Atuahene has praised French Bank Société Générale for its decision to withdraw from the Ghanaian market, deeming it a prudent business strategy.

    After operating in Ghana for two decades, Société Générale has opted to exit the country, joining similar departures from Tunisia and Cameroon.

    Dr. Atuahene believes Société Générale’s move may set a precedent for other banks to follow suit, citing the government’s failure to foster a conducive business environment for financial institutions.

    He expressed concerns that the departure of multinational companies from Ghana could exacerbate unemployment and negatively impact the economy.

    Dr. Atuahene cautioned that the departure of multinational corporations like Société Générale reflects a lack of significant economic progress, contrary to assertions by institutions like the World Bank and IMF.

    “It is going to make our unemployment situation worse and you know, SG [Société Générale]has been in the country for twenty years and they have participated in the cocoa syndication and some other businesses but now they are going.

    “It means that they are no more there with the cocoa syndication and they are going with their taxes and so we are not going to get corporate taxes from them and so it will affect our fiscal situation.”

    “With all the literature that the World Bank and IMF, especially the Bretton Woods institutions saying the economy is turning around, these international banks have strong research departments and they have studied the variables that make economic indications very stable and they have seen it and they know it is not going to happen today or tomorrow. So the earlier they pack their bags, the better for them.”

  • Delayed postings: Unemployed nurses, midwives in Tamale embark on demo

    Delayed postings: Unemployed nurses, midwives in Tamale embark on demo

    The Graduate Unemployed Nurses and Midwives Association (GUNMA) has staged a protest in Tamale to voice their discontent over their unemployment.

    The group is particularly critical of the government, the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for failing to provide financial clearance and permanent employment to over 75,000 graduate nurses and midwives who have completed their training and passed their Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) licensing exams.

    They are demanding that the government clear the backlog of nurses and midwives from 2020, 2021, and 2022 who are awaiting their postings.

    GUNMA alleges that qualified nurses and midwives remain unemployed, while the government has been hiring unqualified individuals, such as senior high school graduates with minimal training, to work in healthcare facilities instead of them.

    “The Nursing and Midwifery Council is mandated by the Health Professional Regulatory Act to secure, in the public’s interest, the highest training and practice for nurses and midwives in this country. If I have been trained and inducted and sit home for close to four years, where then lies their mandate?” one nurse, Abdul Rauf, questioned what the NMC is doing to alleviate their plight.

    “Nurses should not do their rotation for close to a year before their allowances are released, nurses should not sit in the house for so many years before they are posted, nurses should not picket before they are posted, and believe it or not, throughout the world, nurses are the backbone of every country,” another nurse lamented.

  • 2 out of every 3 Ghanaians are unemployed – Ato Forson

    2 out of every 3 Ghanaians are unemployed – Ato Forson

    Leader of the Minority caucus in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has highlighted the issue of unemployment in Ghana, stating that two out of every three Ghanaians are unemployed.

    He criticized President Akufo-Addo for failing to address this issue in his recent State of the Nation Address.

    Dr Ato Forson noted that out of Ghana’s population of over 33 million, only about 11 million are employed, highlighting the urgent need for attention to address the high rate of unemployment.

    He emphasized that both President Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, should be held accountable for this “failure.”

    During his speech in Parliament following the President’s address, Dr Ato Forson urged Ghanaians to vote against President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia in the upcoming December elections.

    He criticized the President for not addressing critical issues affecting the country, such as unemployment, and stated that voting for Dr Bawumia would essentially be a vote for a “third term of President Akufo-Addo.”

    Dr Ato Forson expressed confidence in former President John Dramani Mahama’s ability to improve the country’s economic situation, urging Ghanaians to vote for him in the December Presidential election.

    He also stated that Ghanaians would not miss President Akufo-Addo and his Vice after the end of their tenure.

  • I will export nurses, other health workers to check unemployment – Mahama

    I will export nurses, other health workers to check unemployment – Mahama

    John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has proposed a solution to address unemployment among healthcare workers, particularly nurses, by advocating for their deployment to other countries.

    He believes that sending nurses abroad would be more beneficial than allowing them to remain unemployed in Ghana.

    During a visit to the Savannah Region, Mahama emphasized the importance of providing employment opportunities for nurses after they complete their education.

    To implement this plan, he suggested the establishment of a specialized unit within the Ministry of Employment responsible for recruiting qualified nurses for overseas deployment.

    Mahama promised that if elected, he would work to significantly reduce unemployment rates in the country.

    “We want to increase the production of health workers and nurses, and we will employ them to work for us as many as we can, but at the same time, we will sign agreements with other countries where we can post our nurses to go and work on fixed contracts.

    “So under the Ministry of Employment, we will have a unit that can recruit nurses and make sure they are of the standard that can work in international hospitals.”

    This proposition comes at a time when Ghana is experiencing a mass exodus of health professionals.

    The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association has revealed a staggering exodus, with 732 nurses having left the country since the onset of January 2024 alone.

    Per reports, poor working conditions and the lack of job opportunities have pushed health workers to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

  • Unemployment to skyrocket as two-thirds of Ghanaians risk losing their jobs daily – GSS

    The Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) government statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, has raised alarms over the country’s employment landscape, stating that a substantial portion of the workforce, specifically two-thirds, is engaged in vulnerable employment.

    Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM, Professor Annim highlighted the challenges posed by Ghana’s escalating unemployment rate, currently at 14.7 percent.

    He expressed concern that the situation might be more dire than the unemployment figures indicate, pointing out that many employed individuals face vulnerabilities in their employment status.

    “When it comes to the Ghanaian economy, of those who are employed, two-thirds are in vulnerable employment. We have about 20,000 people who have been unemployed for a period of the seven quarters that we have and if you take the last six months, we have in excess of 1.3 million people who have stayed unemployed,” Professor Annim told host Bernard Avle.

    According to the Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the average unemployment rate in Ghana surged to 14.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2023.

    He emphasized the need for national discussions to focus on improving the conditions of service for those currently employed.

    Professor Annim urged policymakers to concentrate on developing solutions that address the multifaceted challenges faced by the employed population.

    “And with all these categorizations that we have in terms of the unemployment spell, we have tertiary holders as part of it so these are the details that I always encourage that conversations should be segued to so that policymakers will be directed in their thoughts on how to deal with the unemployment situation.”

  • Ghanaians with higher credentials are the most unemployed – GSS

    Ghanaians with higher credentials are the most unemployed – GSS

    A recent study by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that despite their availability and willingness to work, a significant portion of well-educated Ghanaians struggle to secure employment.

    According to the Ghana 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES), spanning from January 2022 to September 2023, approximately 22.3% of individuals who experienced unemployment for a continuous 21-month period held tertiary education qualifications.

    Additionally, nearly 48% of those facing unemployment had completed secondary education.

    The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, shared these labor statistics, emphasizing that around 200,000 individuals encountered unemployment spells lasting at least 12 months during this period.

    Notably, the issue was more prevalent among females, urban residents, individuals with secondary education, and those aged between 15 and 24 years.

    “This number reduces to about 752,000 persons who as of the third quarter of 2023 had not been employed.

    The survey differentiated unemployment spells by tracking individuals unemployed for two quarters (six months) between the second and third quarters of 2023, those jobless for nine months from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2023, and those unemployed for the entire 21-month period from the first quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

    The study highlighted that the total number of people unemployed for six months in the second and third quarters of 2023 was approximately 1.3 million, decreasing to 752,000 by the third quarter of 2023. Professor Annim stressed the significance of addressing youth unemployment, which constituted over three-quarters of the total unemployed population of 1.85 million.

    The report indicated a year-on-year increase in the unemployment rate, with specific regions experiencing notable variations. The Director of Research, Statistics, and Information Management at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, George Amoah, emphasized the government’s reliance on such statistics for planning and expressed a commitment to leveraging the report to promote decent work for the population.

  • We are working to check unemployment – Deputy Finance Minister

    We are working to check unemployment – Deputy Finance Minister

    Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Kumah, has reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling unemployment in the country through various initiatives.

    These include YouStart, the Ghana Enterprise Agency, and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, all aimed at addressing the pressing issue of job scarcity.

    However, according to the 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Third Quarter Labour Statistics Report, there is cause for concern.

    The unemployment rate for the first three quarters of 2023 stood at 14.7%, marking a 1.1% increase from the previous year’s 13.6%. There is also a notable gender disparity, with females experiencing higher unemployment rates.

    Dr John Kumah acknowledged this gender gap, highlighting the significant rise in female unemployment between 2022 and 2023. Nevertheless, he emphasized the government’s efforts to attract investments and create an environment conducive to job creation.

    He also emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in addressing the unemployment crisis, urging confidence in its potential to drive economic growth and reduce joblessness.

    “The Ghana Statistical Service on Wednesday announced that about 1.5 million Ghanaian youth are unemployed. Last year, E-levy generated GH¢1.19 billion and as part of dealing with the job situation… unemployment situation, government has committed funds through YouStart from this E-levy sources…to GEA and NEIP to address the unemployment situation in the country, and I am happy to announce that institutions like Wealth and Jobs Expo and all private groups that are willing to help create jobs in the private sector will also be supported to help create jobs and businesses in the private sector,” he said.

  • Unemployment rate in Ghana reaches 14.7% – GSS

    Unemployment rate in Ghana reaches 14.7% – GSS

    In the initial three quarters of 2023, the nation witnessed a surge in the average unemployment rate, reaching 14.7 percent.

    Corresponding data extracted from the Ghana Statistical Service’s Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Quarter Three Labour Bulletin revealed that the number of unemployed individuals aged 15 to 35 increased from approximately 1.2 million to over 1.3 million during this period.

    Notably, the unemployment rate was consistently higher among females than males.

    The survey findings also highlighted a temporary decline in youth unemployment during the second quarter of the preceding year, 2022.

    However, the sharp rise in the unemployment rate among females between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 resulted in a broader gender gap in unemployment in 2023 compared to 2022.

    The labor force saw an influx of about 440,000 individuals between the first and third quarters of 2023, with more than 60.0 percent of them securing employment.

    Interestingly, throughout both 2022 and 2023, more females than males found employment, with the gender difference in employment figures averaging around 600,000 in 2022 and 900,000 in 2023.

    While the number of employed individuals in urban areas remained relatively constant in the first three quarters of 2023, rural areas experienced a continuous increase in employment for five consecutive quarters from the second quarter of 2022.

    However, there was a decline in rural employment in the third quarter of 2023. The disparity in unemployment rates between urban and rural areas consistently widened in the first three quarters of 2023, with the urban unemployment rate being almost twice that of rural areas in the second and third quarters of 2023.

    The overall average unemployment rate for the first three quarters of 2023 stood at 14.7 percent, with females consistently experiencing a higher rate than males. The gender gap in unemployment widened due to a significant increase in the unemployment rate among females from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023.

    Although the labor force participation rate exhibited a notable increase between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, it remained stable throughout the first three quarters of 2023. Concurrently, the labor market’s ability to absorb individuals seeking employment, as indicated by the absorption rate, consistently improved from the second quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.

  • Don’t sleep with a man for a job – Nana Aba Anamoah advises unemployed women

    Don’t sleep with a man for a job – Nana Aba Anamoah advises unemployed women

    Media personality Nana Aba Anamoah has advised young women to avoid succumbing to sexual advances from men in exchange for job opportunities or career advancement.

    Speaking on 3Music TV, she emphasized that such compromises not only result in women being taken advantage of or exploited but also undermine their dignity and self-respect.

    “It’s just that some men think that is how they can exhibit power…If you are a young girl and you are caught up in that situation, I’ll say to you, do not have sex with a man,” the broadcast journalist said.

    “One girl told me if ‘I have sex with a man it’s not written on my forehead, nobody will know’. Yes, but it is your dignity. If you want to have sex with a man, have sex with a man but not because there is an opportunity at stake, that is your self-esteem gone,” she added.

    Although Nana Aba Anamoah has never experienced a man giving her such an ultimatum in the workplace, she strongly believes that it is in the best interest of any woman in such a situation to not risk it.

    Additionally, she noted that the blame cannot be placed on the young women in such situations, as many tend to do.

    Addressing the tendency to blame young women for these predicaments, she said “It is not their fault…if you say watch ‘how you carry yourself’ then you are apportioning some blame to the young women. There is an insane man who thinks that ‘this girl, even though she is competent, I must get into her pants before she gets the job.’ So it is not the young woman’s fault,” she said.

    Nana Aba Anamoah believes that it is acceptable for women to engage in consensual sexual relationships, but they should never do so because there is an opportunity at stake.

    “Of course, you will be confronted with so many challenges that at that point you need the job and the money…However I want to tell every young woman that exchanging sex for a job is not the way to go,” she said.

    The Ghana Statistical Service’s Quarterly Labour Statistics for 2022 have laid bare the persistent challenges faced by a significant portion of the population.

    Unemployment and food insecurity plagued at least a quarter of a million individuals throughout the entire year, peaking at 330,000 in the second quarter.

  • Project to create 250,000 jobs launched by Dr Bawumia

    Project to create 250,000 jobs launched by Dr Bawumia

    Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has inaugurated a project aimed at empowering 250,000 young individuals to secure dignified and fulfilling employment within the next four years.

    The Business in Box (BizBox) initiative, backed by an investment of GH¢660 million, is set to equip young entrepreneurs with essential tools, knowledge, and support for starting and expanding their businesses.

    Implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the BizBox project is slated to run until April 2027.

    It will encompass training in life skills, technical expertise, entrepreneurship, and business development to foster growth and scalability.

    Additionally, the initiative will provide mentorship, market access, regulatory support, and startup kits across diverse sectors, including agriculture, agri-adjacent industries, tourism, the creative industry, building and construction, among others.

    Speaking at the project launch following a campaign in Accra, Dr. Bawumia emphasized that BizBox builds on the success of the “Young Africa Works” initiative implemented between 2020 and 2022, which impacted around 94,000 young people by creating employment opportunities.

    The Vice-President expressed the goal of BizBox to further scale up and empower 250,000 individuals, supporting 125,000 youth with startup kits, providing market access to 50,000 businesses, and offering regulatory support to 40,000 businesses.

    Describing BizBox as more than a project, Dr. Bawumia highlighted its significance as a symbol of hope and opportunities, encompassing tools, knowledge, and support for developing and growing successful businesses.

    The project specifically targets youth aged 15 to 35, persons with disabilities (PWDs), vulnerable females, women business owners, and female-led youth businesses.

  • 20,000 youth to be employed as govt launches Business and Employment Assistance Programme

    20,000 youth to be employed as govt launches Business and Employment Assistance Programme

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has introduced the government’s latest business and youth intervention, the Business and Employment Assistance Programme, at a launch event in Sunyani on Monday, December 11.

    Administered by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), the initiative aims to support 10,000 businesses owned by young Ghanaians, leading to the employment of 20,000 youth, with their salaries covered by the Youth Employment Agency.

    Dr Bawumia underscored that the jobs anticipated to be created through this initiative will contribute to the existing 2.1 million jobs that the government claims to have already generated.

    This initiative is designed to enhance sustainability and growth for these businesses while simultaneously providing additional employment opportunities for the youth.

    “The Business and Employment Assistance Programme and other youth interventions under the YEA and under agencies, underline our government’s commitment to creating more jobs and opportunities for the youth, in addition to the 2.1m jobs created by the government in the past seven years in the public and private sectors respectively,” the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer said.

  • Create more jobs for 11m youth entering the labor market yearly – World Bank to African govts

    Create more jobs for 11m youth entering the labor market yearly – World Bank to African govts

    The World Bank has offered a crucial recommendation to Sub-Saharan African nations, stressing the urgent necessity to generate improved employment opportunities for a larger portion of their populations.

    This is seen as essential to address the requirements of the expanding populace.

    The World Bank’s analysis indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa will encounter the most rapid growth in the working-age population compared to all other regions. Over the next three decades, there is a projected net increase of 740 million individuals by 2050 in this region.

    “In Sub-Saharan Africa, an urgent need arises for creating better jobs for more people to meet the needs of growing populations. Over the next three decades, the region will experience the fastest increase in the working-age population of all regions, with a projected net increase of 740 million people by 2050”.

    In the forthcoming decades, the Sub-Saharan African region is expected to witness a significant influx of youth into the labor market, with estimates ranging from eight to eleven million annually. However, the region is currently generating only about three million new formal wage jobs each year.

    The October 2023 Africa Pulse Report from the World Bank highlights the need to align the wage-employment ratio with the upper middle-income country average of 36%. Achieving this objective would necessitate an annual wage employment growth rate of 8.3% in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is notably higher than the rate of 5.4% recorded over the past two decades.

    “Gross domestic product (GDP) in Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole grew by a meager 1.4% annually between 1991 and 2019, despite experiencing a growth spurt from 2000 until around 2014 during which annual rates accelerated to 28%.

    Even during this period of faster growth, the share of working-age individuals with wage jobs increased only from 14 to 16%”.

    In Sub-Saharan African countries, a distinctive trend emerges: for every one percentage point increase in economic growth, the proportion of workers engaged in wage jobs rises by an average of 0.04%. This outcome is characterized by a limited translation of economic growth into employment opportunities in the region.

    By contrast, countries in East Asia exhibit a significantly different pattern, generating roughly twice the number of jobs for each one percentage point increase in economic growth.

  • Mahama is best fit to tackle youth unemployment – Former Presidential Staffer

    Mahama is best fit to tackle youth unemployment – Former Presidential Staffer

    Former Presidential Staffer, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has voiced his conviction that John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), represents a more suitable choice for the youth of Ghana.

    He underscored Mahama’s commitment to social intervention programs designed to empower young people and enable them to become self-reliant.

    Stan Dogbe highlighted Mahama’s commendable track record of implementing initiatives geared towards uplifting Ghana’s youth, notably the Youth Enterprises Support (YES) initiative. This initiative not only provided financial support but also created job opportunities and offered skills training to numerous young Ghanaians.

    Furthermore, Stan Dogbe mentioned Mahama’s forward-looking plans, which include the introduction of additional youth-centric programs. Among these is the National Apprenticeship Program, set to offer free vocational, artisanal, skills, and technical training. This initiative aims to equip young Ghanaians with valuable skills, fostering self-employment and entrepreneurship.

    In his words, “John Dramani Mahama is a trusted leader who has previously implemented numerous initiatives to empower the youth of Ghana. His Youth Enterprises Support (YES) initiative provided funding, job opportunities, and skills training for many young Ghanaians. He plans to introduce other youth-focused schemes, including free vocational, artisanal, skills, and technical training under the National Apprenticeship Program. This welcome initiative will help young Ghanaians gain valuable skills, become self-employed, become employers, and be able to support themselves.”

    Stan Dogbe emphasized Mahama’s potential to address crucial issues beneficial to the youth, including the promise of a 24-hour economy and substantial investments in infrastructure.

    He lauded Mahama’s unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, education, and good governance, asserting that Mahama stands as the superior choice for shaping Ghana’s future.

    Additionally, Stan Dogbe took aim at the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), expressing disappointment in what he perceived as the party’s failure to tackle youth unemployment, improve the struggling education system, and combat widespread corruption.

    He criticized the NPP’s performance in these critical areas and affirmed that Mahama represents a more promising choice for the youth and for the future development of Ghana, contrasting it with the perceived shortcomings of the NPP administration.

    “Nana Akufo-Addo and Mahamadu Bawumia’s current administration has faltered in addressing youth unemployment and the struggling education system. Corruption remains rampant, and the pledges made to the youth remain unfulfilled. These two have been a significant disappointment in regard to the youth.”

  • Ghana’s unemployment rate is ‘unacceptable’ – Akufo-Addo

    Ghana’s unemployment rate is ‘unacceptable’ – Akufo-Addo

    President Akufo-Addo has expressed deep concern over Ghana’s unemployment rate, deeming it to be in an unacceptable state.

    The unemployment rate in Ghana is anticipated to reach 5.00 percent by the conclusion of 2023, as indicated by the global macro models and analysts’ expectations reported by Trading Economics.

    Looking ahead, according to Trading Economics’ econometric models, the Ghana Unemployment Rate is forecasted to follow a trend of approximately 4.70 percent in 2024 and 4.50 percent in 2025.

    President Akufo-Addo conveyed these sentiments during an event where he recognized and celebrated young male and female entrepreneurs in connection with the Presidential Pitch initiative, which took place on Friday, August 18, 2023.

    He said: “Entrepreneurship is a vital component of economic growth and development, and has been embraced globally as an important driver of economic transformation.

    “I believe firmly that the fastest way to deal with the challenges confronting our economy and the unacceptable rate of unemployment is the fusion of technology, entrepreneurship, and business.

    “Governments, the world over, recognise youth entrepreneurship as the appropriate tool to address the unemployment challenges of our times.”

    He added: “That is why I am happy that, under Seasons One, Two, and Three of the Presidential Pitch, 702 direct and thousands of indirect jobs have been created by our winners, with majority of these jobs being established in rural communities.

    “I want to single out the Chief Executive Officer of Pizzaman Chickenman, Christian Boakye Yiadom, the tenth-place winner from Season Two for special mention. He started his pizza business on the campus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

    “He received twenty-five thousand cedis (25,000), which he used to scale-up his business. It eventually led to the opening of the first Pizzaman Chickenman branch on KNUST campus on 17th January 2020, some six months after the competition. Today, Pizzaman Chickenman has become a household name and a favourite bite for many.”

  • No jobs for graduates, unemployment in Ghana at an all-time high – Mahama

    No jobs for graduates, unemployment in Ghana at an all-time high – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama asserted that Ghana’s unemployment rate had reached its highest point, marking the first occurrence of such a high rate in the nation’s history.

    During a speech at the graduation ceremony of the Academic City University College over the weekend, Mr. Mahama pointed out that there were very few job opportunities for graduates, leading to extended periods of unemployment for many of them.

    He recalled that during his tenure, there were abundant job opportunities, and for those interested in teaching, automatic postings were provided.

    However, the former president noted that the situation has changed significantly, with fewer job openings and reduced retention of individuals after their national service.

    In addition, Mr. Mahama expressed concern over the state of the local economy, stating that it was in a state of disarray.

    While delivering his speech, he said, “We left the university gates and walked into ready jobs waiting for us. There was automatic posting if you wanted to go into teaching. Many of us were retained and absorbed into workplaces where we had been posted for National Service…Our colleagues who made first class were quickly snapped up by prestigious banks and private corporations like UAC, Lever Brothers, now Unilever, and Standard Chartered Bank as management trainees.”

    “There are no ready jobs to absorb you. It may take years for you to find decent employment. There are cases of students who remain unemployed five years after completing university. Unemployment in Ghana is at its highest in history today, estimated at 13%. Our economy is in crisis. The closure of indigenous banks and the banking sector cleanout have led to the loss of several jobs,” John Dramani Mahama stated.

  • GAF warns against fake recruitment

    GAF warns against fake recruitment

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a warning to the public regarding fraudulent online recruitment and enlistment exercises.

    In a press release, the GAF stated that they have observed a fake press release circulating on social media, instructing interested applicants to send their summary reports and contact details to a fraudulent email address: ghforces37@gmail.com.

    Furthermore, the false document references a supposed press release from the Finance Ministry to the GAF, claiming that recruitment of new officers in all sectors has been postponed due to financial constraints faced by the government.

    The GAF strongly advises individuals to be cautious and refrain from engaging with such fraudulent activities.

    They emphasize that the official channels for GAF recruitment will be duly announced through the appropriate channels and not through unofficial means.

    The GAF encourages the public to verify any information regarding recruitment exercises directly from their official sources to ensure accuracy and legitimacy.

    By raising awareness of this issue, the GAF aims to protect aspiring applicants from falling victim to scams and maintain the integrity of their recruitment process.

    “Additionally, the fake document makes reference to a purported press release by the Finance Ministry to GAF about holding on recruitment of new officers across all sectors due to financial constraints on the part of
    government,” the statement reads.

  • Ken Agyapong promises to tackle unemployment if voted into power

    Ken Agyapong promises to tackle unemployment if voted into power

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central and flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has vowed to combat the issue of unemployment in Ghana if elected as the party’s flagbearer and subsequently as the President of the country.

    He made these statements during the filing of his nomination at the party’s headquarters on June 21, 2023.

    According to him, the menace of unemployment is a longstanding challenge faced by the government and successive governments, and he is determined to reduce the unemployment rate significantly.

    “As a member of parliament for the past twenty-three years, I want to admit that the challenge of the government and governments has been unemployment. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to make sure I reduce the unemployment rate in this country. I want everybody to believe in me, those of you watching to believe in me that whatever I say by the grace of God and with good health, I deliver,” he said.

    The flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong continued that job creation, especially for the youth of the country is a key problem that needs immediate attention to move the country forward.

    “From the experience of the twenty-three years as a politician and as a parliamentarian one key problem as I said I have identified. To move this country forward; we need to make sure that we create job opportunities specifically for the youth,” he added.

    Kennedy Agyapong’s nomination filing adds him to the list of six candidates who have filed for the NPP flagbearer position out of the eleven individuals who picked the nomination forms.

    The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Minister for Food and Agriculture, former Minister for Trade and Industries, Alan Kyeremanteng, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and former Geberal Secretary of the party, Kwabena Agyapong are among the candidates who have also submitted their nominations.

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) opened nomination on May 26, 2023, with aspirants given up to June 24, 2023, to submit forms.

  • Unemployment may result in terrorism -Adib Saani

    Unemployment may result in terrorism -Adib Saani

    Security analyst Adib Saani has said the greatest existential threat to our country’s security is unemployment.

    According to him, it is part of our human vulnerability, and it has been proven to create terrorism, rebellion, criminality, and other security concerns.

    He was reacting to the Ghana Statistical Service’s most recent unemployment numbers.

    According to the data, unemployment has risen from 19% to more than 25%.

    The reported figure revealed two-thirds of the unemployed were females.

    Adib Saani, in response to the report, stated that these are concerning data that must be addressed.

    According to him, we play politics with unemployment, and he doesn’t accept these stats because some of the jobs listed as jobs aren’t.

    “We pretend to employ people, and they also pretend to work,” he bemoaned. Graduates from our universities, unemployed nurses, and others are all over, so when I look at these figures, I know something is wrong. These statistics are typically intended to make the government appear good. The unemployment rate is alarming. The remedy was successful, and the kikes of NABCO and others no longer had jobs.

    What you should do is create an environment conducive to the growth of the private sector. Several businesses in the country are experiencing difficulties. This government vowed to shift Ghana from taxing to production, but we are currently paying historic levels of taxation.”

    He called the scenario “irresponsible governance” and “unfortunate.”

    “On an unprecedented scale, Ghanaians are willing to travel outside the country to seek greener pastures. Several people call me requesting to know if I could assist them travel or leave the country because the situation in Ghana is terrible. Our minimum wage is the worst in the world.”

  • 67% of jobless Ghanaians are women – GSS

    67% of jobless Ghanaians are women – GSS

    Females account for two-thirds of the unemployed in Ghana, according to the 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Third Quarter Labour Statistics Report, which was released on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

    The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, emphasized at the report launch that the high rates of female unemployment were not solely due to their gender.

    He stated that the unemployment rate for females was almost double that of males. “Unemployment among females was close to twice of males,” he said.

    In the first three quarters of last year, about 157,000 individuals, which accounted for roughly 13.2% of the labour force, experienced a spell of unemployment lasting one or more days.

    Other findings

    According to the report, around 7.5 million individuals held their jobs continuously for three quarters out of approximately 11 million employees in each quarter. This suggests that roughly 3.5 million individuals were experiencing employment fluctuations over the three quarters, indicating vulnerability.

    67% of jobless Ghanaians are women

    Another important discovery was that the likelihood of shifting from informal employment to unemployment is five times greater on average than transitioning from formal employment to unemployment.

    In Q3, two out of every three individuals who were unemployed but had been employed in Q1 were in precarious employment during the first quarter.

    Lastly, the group of people who are burdened by the triple threat of being unemployed, food insecure, and multidimensionally impoverished increased by almost 55,000 between Q2 and Q3.

  • We are not conducting any enlistment or recruitment, be warned – GAF

    We are not conducting any enlistment or recruitment, be warned – GAF

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has warned the public against false job postings.

    GAF claims to have observed a phony online connection promoting hiring for the years 2023 and 2024.

    GAF wishes to caution the general public to desist from patronizing this fraudulent link (https://recruitmentfile.net/gaf.recruitment/), which is being circulated on social media platforms, especially WhatsApp and Facebook.

    A statement issued said “GAF wishes also to state that it is not conducting any enlistment or recruitment at this material time, and has not advertised such for the year 2023/2024. The public and persons interested in joining GAF should stick to the certified and official channels that GAF uses in announcing recruitments and enlistment exercises; that is the national dailies. (Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times)

    “GAF once again reiterates that, it does not advertise on social media and does not engage
    middlemen in such exercise. Therefore, the public should take heed of the education and numerous reminders to desist from paying monies through ‘mobile money’ to unscrupulous persons who claim to be recruitment agents of GAF.”

    It added “GAF further states that, in conjunction with other Security Services, such unscrupulous persons engaged in the fraudulent act are continuously being tracked down and those arrested will be dealt with severely according to the law.

    “Once again, GAF wishes to state that it is not conducting any 2023/2024 recruitment/enlistment exercise at this material time. The public is kindly advised to take note and report any advertisement and persons soliciting monies for such exercises, to the nearest Military Installation or Police Station. GAF requires the cooperation of the public to nib their fraudulent activities in the bud.”

  • Ministry of employment warns public against recruitment scam

    Ministry of employment warns public against recruitment scam

    The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has warned the public against an ongoing recruitment scam in which an email purporting to be from the Ministry informs recipients that they have been selected for an interview.

    The purported interview was being held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, which started on March 7, 2023, and is ongoing.

    A statement issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the email directed persons interested in the job offer to pay ¢300 into mobile money account numbers 0203536390 and 0560785536.

    The fee was meant to facilitate the interview and subsequent completion of Public Service Interview Evaluation forms.

    It noted that additionally, text messages titled: “Ministries”, had been sent to the public to contact one Romeo Adams, designated as the Human Resource Manager on 0203536390 to confirm participation in the said interview.

    However, contacts of unsuspecting job seekers, who sent monies, were blocked from making calls to the recipient’s number, the statement said.

    ‘’The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is seizing this opportunity to inform all and sundry, especially job seekers and Ghanaian youth that the Ministry had not officially notified the public of any recruitment interview at the Foreign Affairs Ministry…”

    “Romeo Adams is not a staff of the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry and the Ministry is not a recruitment body,” the Ministry stated in their press release.

    The Ministry urged the public to take note of its website and Facebook page, www.melr.gov.gh and Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations-Ghana, respectively.

  • Forestry Commission urges govt to employ more youth as field staff

    Forestry Commission urges govt to employ more youth as field staff

    The Western North Region Forestry Commission has urged govt to employ more youth as forest guards and field staff.

    The Commission laments the fact that the majority of its personnel in charge of such operations are now of retirement age, rendering them unable to effectively carry out their mandate.

    Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the Forestry Commission’s Youth In Afforestation program have been complaining about the non-payment of their locked-up allowances.

    Speaking to journalists, Reverend Edward Opoku Antwi, Deputy Regional Manager for the Forestry Commission in the Western North Region, stated that there is an urgent need for young people to man the forest reserves.

    “We still need more staff members especially the field staff because the technical officers are very old so we need some of the youth to do the field work.”

  • Be employers not job seekers – UCOMS graduates urged

    Be employers not job seekers – UCOMS graduates urged

    Graduates of the University College of Management Studies (UCOMS) have been urged to utilise the knowledge acquired to create jobs.

    President of the Wisconsin International University College, Professor Obeng Mireku said it is time graduates create more jobs to reduce the unemployment rates in the country.

    “Complement government’s efforts in the realm of employment by striving to become your own employers and you will appreciate the dignity of labour,” he added.

    Prof Mireku made the comment as the Guest Speaker at the 12th congregation ceremony of UCOMS held at its Jerusalem campus in Kasoa over the weekend.

    Be employers not job seekers - UCOMS graduates urged

    It was on the theme: ‘Re-imaging tertiary education in the era of global recession: The role of UCOMS’.

    Prof Mireku indicated that, in this era of global recession, “the sky is no longer the limit; do not rest on your oars”

    “We are in a tremendous time for opportunity and innovation and I believe fervently that the education and skills you have acquired at UCOMS have equipped you to meet the challenges of this era of global recession where there is no doubt a significant rise in the unemployment rate” he added.

    He also encouraged them to exhibit high levels of dedication, accountability, integrity and honesty in all their professional careers to better themselves.

    Be employers not job seekers - UCOMS graduates urged

    Prof Mireku noted that, life is not as rosy as it appears but with determination and hard work, they can make it.

    “As they go out there to face to unknown, may I assure them that with hard work and faith in God, nothing can dismantle their success in life” he opined.

    Also, Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Vladimir Antwi-Danso said UCOMS will be introducing new programmes in areas which will benefit the Ghanaian society.

    He said due to the quality tuition, their graduates are found in all sectors of the economy competing favourably in the job market both nationally and internationally.

    Be employers not job seekers - UCOMS graduates urged

    Prof.  Antwi-Danso expressed appreciation to their mentor institution, University of Education, Winneba and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission their ensuring very high standards are maintained in training the young men and women.

    Vice Chancellor, University of Education, Winneba, Prof. Mawutor Avoke in a speech read on his behalf charged the graduates to be part of the solution to Ghana’s problems.

    He charged them to be agents of change to empower them to improve their immediate environment and beyond.

    Prof. Avoke urged the graduands to hold themselves to high ethical standards in their chosen fields.

    Consulting Rector of UCOMS, Prof. George Kankam said their curriculum is industry relevant to make their students marketable.

    He noted that, given the current socio-economic conditions in the country, they have also introduced flexible payment systems to allow a lot more people have access to university education.

    Prof. Kankam added that, plans are far advanced to gain autonomy to make UCOMS a fully-fledged public university.

    15 of the graduands had First Class, 80 Second Class Upper, 36 and 4 had Second Class Lower and Third Class respectively.

    The graduating students from the faculty of Business Administration with majors in Accounting, Banking and Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees.

    Also students from the faculty of Education, Hospitality and Tourism Management were also presented with BSc degrees.

    Charles Darkwah who pursued BSc in Accounting was adjudged the overall best graduating student. He also won the Founder’s Excellence Award.

    Mr. Darkwah delivered the valedictory address on behalf of his cohort and expressed profound gratitude to the University community, their parents and loved ones for their sacrifices and pledged their commitment to make the institution proud in all their endeavours.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • PWG-GH launches Marketing Queen Pageant to support female graduates

    The Marketing Queen, a network marketing entrepreneurship beauty pageant aimed at helping mitigate graduate unemployment in Ghana, has been launched in Accra.

    The Marketing Queen is a unique pageant competition that has created a prestigious platform for ladies to exhibit their entrepreneurial marketing skills and business ideas for job creation.

    Developed by PGW-GH, a leading marketing partner of Longrich International, a consumer product manufacturing conglomerate, the pageant has the objective of helping young female graduates use their beauty to develop business ideas for job creation.

    More than 200 ladies are expected to benefit from the objective of the pageant which requires the contestants to exhibit their intelligence in various fields.
    Apart from the benefit to the contestants, the pageant aims to create public awareness on network marketing opportunities which the youth can explore for wealth creation.

    Kennedy Amoako, Chief Executive Officer of PGW-Ghana, speaking at the grand launch, said, “we believe that a project such as an entrepreneurship pageantry will seek not only to resource and empower the pageants but also provide a platform to educate the general public to understand and embrace the opportunities that network marketing businesses provide towards the growth of the economy.”

    He explained that contestants would be funded to create personal business and community projects in addition to receiving business coaching.

    The contestants will be given network marketing-related challenges weekly to perform, and the winners will be rewarded weekly, with the top 10 finalists going into the grand finale TV reality show. The ultimate winner takes home a Honda saloon car, while the other finalists get various business start-up packages.

     

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Over 1m men lost employment status in 1st and 2nd quarters of 2022 – GSS

    The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has stated that 1.1 million males between 15 years and above transitioned out of their employed status.

    According to GSS, these transitions occurred between the first and second quarters of 2022.

    “In percentage terms, 9.4% of employed males in the first quarter were unemployed in the second quarter with an additional 15.7% outside of the labour force,” GSS cited from the 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES).

    The GSS revealed these statistics on men to raise awareness about International Men’s Day, celebrated on November 19 each year. This year’s commemoration is under the theme, “Helping Men and Boys”.

    According to GSS, the Upper East Region recorded the highest percentage of employed males in the first quarter who were no longer employed in the second.

    It was followed by the North East Region.

    “In the Upper East Region, seven out every ten (69.0%) males employed in the first quarter were no longer employed in the second. Theirs is the highest rate in the country distantly followed by the North East Region (43.9%).”

    Touching on earnings, GSS noted that the “mean hourly earnings for males in the second quarter were GH¢9.9, falling slightly from GH¢11.0 in the first quarter.”

    On education, GSS revealed that “the AHIES 2022 Q1 and Q2 Report estimates that 600,893 males 15 to 24 years were not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) in the second quarter, an increase of over 100,000 from the 463,260 recorded in the first quarter.”

    It added that 3,335,604 males between 15 years and older are not literate with almost half a million (459,110) boys from 4 to 14 years currently not attending school.
    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Wages rise by more than expected but unemployment also grows, Office for National Statistics figures show

    The latest wage figures will likely concern policymakers at the Bank of England who fear increases will fuel inflation further down the line.

    Wage growth picked up by more than expected over the three months to September, according to official figures also showing a rise in the jobless rate.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average weekly earnings, excluding bonus payments, rose at an annual rate of 5.7% during the three months to September as more workers secured better deals to help navigate the cost of living crisis and firms moved to retain and attract staff.

    That was up from the 5.4% figure last month.

    Economists polled by Reuters had expected an increase of 5.5%.

    Nevertheless, at 5.7% it remains well below the official rate of inflation at 10.1%.

    Real wage growth was 3.7% weaker in September when the effects of inflation were included, the ONS said.

    The unemployment rate rose to 3.6% from 3.5% as the number of people in employment fell by 52,000.

    Darren Morgan, ONS director of labour and economic statistics, said of the shift: “The proportion of people neither working nor looking for work has risen again.

    “Since the onset of the pandemic, this shift has largely been caused by older workers leaving the labour market altogether, but in the most recent quarter the main contribution has actually come from younger groups.

    “August and September saw well over half a million working days lost to strikes, the highest two-month total in more than a decade, with the vast majority coming from the transport and communications sectors.

    “With real earnings continuing to fall, it’s not surprising that employers we survey are telling us most disputes are about pay.”

    The figures were released as the economy battles problems from the highest inflation for 40 years and the fallout from Trussonomics – namely the now largely reversed mini-budget of September.

    Official figures last week showed the economy contracted during the third quarter of the year as the cost of living crisis hit demand, leaving the country on course for a prolonged but shallow recession, according to the Bank of England, which believes the jobless rate could hit 6.5%.

    The Bank fears a shrinking labour market will add to inflation pressures, forcing it to raise the Bank rate even as the economy heads into the expected recession.

    The rate is the single most important interest rate in the UK and determines the rate the Bank of England pays to commercial banks that hold money with them. It influences the rates those banks charge people to borrow money or pay on their savings.

    The Truss government’s growth plan exacerbated problems as financial markets called into question the UK’s economic credibility, making imports more expensive through a collapse in the value of the pound.

    Other implications included a rise in fixed-term mortgage costs, adding to households’ growing bill mountain.

    Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, will deliver his autumn statement to MPs on Thursday with little firepower to help alleviate the overall pain.

    ‘Taxes will increase for everyone’

    He told Sky News on Sunday that everyone faced higher taxes as the government, now led by Rishi Sunak, aims to take a more sustainable approach to the public finances.

    It is believed the package will be designed to save about £50bn from annual borrowing in the medium term.

    Mr Hunt said in reaction to the employment data: “Tackling inflation is my absolute priority and that guides the difficult decisions on tax and spending we will make on Thursday.

    “Restoring stability and getting debt falling is our only option to reduce inflation and limit interest rate rises.”

    press home the knock-on impact of 12 years of Tory economic mistakes and low growth.

    “Real wages have fallen again, thousands of over 50s have left the labour market and a record number of people are out of work because they’re stuck on NHS waiting lists or they’re not getting proper employment support.

    “What Britain needs in the autumn statement on Thursday are fairer choices for working people, and a proper plan for growth.”

    Source: Sky news.com 

  • Canada adds  large number of jobs in October, while the unemployment rate remains unchanged

    In October, Canada added ten times the number of jobs expected, as the government set aside millions to assist low-income workers.

    Official data show that the Canadian economy posted a bumper job gain in October, coming in 10 times higher than forecasts, with the jobless rate holding steady, with the big beat upping market calls for another oversized interest rate hike.

    According to data released on Friday, the economy added a net 108,300 jobs last month, easily exceeding forecasts of 10,000 new jobs, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2 percent. The entire blowout gain was in full-time work, and it was spread across both the goods and services sectors.

    “It seems Bank of Canada Governor [Tiff] Macklem zigged when he should have zagged, judging by these numbers. They’re very strong. I’m surprised actually,” said Derek Holt, vice president of capital markets economics at Scotiabank.

    While other data will be coming before the next Bank of Canada (BoC) rate meeting in December, the jobs surge suggests another 50 basis points increase may be coming, he added.

    The BoC raised its policy rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 percent last week and said while more increases would still be needed, it was nearing the end of its tightening campaign.

    The employment report bolstered money market bets of another outsized hike in December, with a nearly 70 percent chance of a 50-basis-point increase and the policy rate now seen peaking at 4.5 percent early next year.

    The average hourly wage for permanent employees rose 5.5 percent in October on a year-over-year basis, up from 5.2 percent in September. Total employment edged just above May 2022 levels.

    Canada’s core-age workers continued to lead gains. The core-age unemployment rate stands at 4.2 percent, slightly above July’s record low, but in a historically tight range last seen in the 1970s.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government on Thursday set out billions in new spending to support low-income workers among other things.

    The Canadian dollar was trading 1.6 percent higher at 1.3525 to the greenback, or 73.94 US cents.

  • Women bereft of qualifications after burning degrees

    A young woman in Malawi had her educational qualifications revoked after a video of her burning her university degree in despair over her inability to find employment went viral on social media.

    Privately-run Exploits University in the capital, Lilongwe, told Bridget Thapwile Soko that it was disappointed with the video because it tarnished the image of the institution and said it had decided to invalidate her learner’s degree certificate with immediate effect.

    Ms Soko was awarded a degree in business administration upon completing a four-year course with the university but was heard in the video saying she had decided to burn it because she saw no value in it.

    Unemployment is a serious problem in Malawi and was one of the key campaign issues in the last general election. President Lazarus Chakwera, then an opposition leader, promised he would create a million jobs in his first year in office.

    The president’s team claims the majority of those jobs have been created, but the opposition says unemployment numbers have in fact increased.

    In most anti-government protests that have recently been held across Malawi, many youths are seen carrying placards demanding jobs.

    But the revocation of Bridget’s certificate has ignited a huge debate on social media about unemployment and the suitability of education offered in institutions of higher learning.

     

  • Unemployment to increase, economic growth to slowdown – US based Assistant Professor

    US-based Ghanaian Assistant Professor of Economics, Dr. Dennis Nsafoah, is warning of a slowdown in the country’s economic growth and an anticipated increase in unemployment.

    This is a result of the recent 2.5% increase in the Bank of Ghana’s policy rate to 24.5%.

    According to him, the increase in the policy rate will push the cost of borrowing up and possibly drive down investment spending by many private businesses in the economy.

    Dr. Nsafoah who is with Niagara University told Joy Business an increase in the policy rate will be less beneficial especially when one expects aggregate supply to return to normal levels.

    “A 2.5% increase in the policy rate can be costly to households and businesses. It will increase the cost of borrowing and possibly drive down investment spending by many private businesses in the economy. For an economy which is currently facing several other challenges (including high inflation and currency depreciation), the increase in policy rate may slow economic growth and increase unemployment”.

    He, however, said the Bank of Ghana like many central banks around the world is facing the tradeoff between price stability and economic growth in the sense that, most economists generally agree that at least in the short run, a monetary policy decision which decreases inflation will also decrease economic growth.

    “For the Bank of Ghana, choosing between price stability and economic growth is not really a big conundrum. The primary objective of the Bank of Ghana is to maintain stability in the general level of prices, as stated under section 3 of the Bank of Ghana Act 2002, (Act 612)”, he added..

    Is increasing the policy rate the solution to a cost-push inflation? Dr. Nsafoah responded by saying both ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.

    He stressed that central banks do not respond to supply side shocks when they occur in the economy because they are often transitory and do not last. Therefore, an increase in the policy rate to deal with excess demand caused by a decrease in supply will be less beneficial especially when one expects aggregate supply to return to normal levels.

    However, he opined that when there are successive supply shocks which appear to have a permanent and lasting effect on the economy like “we have seen in the inflation data presented by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), then an increase in the policy rate is a solution. By increasing the policy rate, the Bank of Ghana can slow down aggregate demand to give aggregate supply time to catch up”.

    Furthermore, he said “we believe inflation in Ghana is gradually peaking. The Bank of Ghana in their previous monetary policy report estimated inflation to peak in the last quarter of 2022. The disinflation seen in the monthly inflation data is also a good indication that inflation is peaking. However, there are still significant risks to the inflation forecast especially from the pass-through of currency depreciation”.

    The policy rate cumulatively has increased by 10% year to date. The 2.5% increase is the largest aggregate policy rate increase in a calendar year since 1992.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • The ‘spiritual’ things Kwame Nkrumah did at night along beaches

    A former bodyguard of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has recalled the days when he would accompany his boss to the beach in the dead of the night.

    During those outings, Christian Blukoo said the former president would engage in some spiritual acts.

    Always preoccupied with how to keep the president safe, the former bodyguard explained that he and other reliable guards at the Christiansborg Castle (Osu Castle) – the seat of government at the time- would be dutied to follow him.

    “After I was successful, I was sent to Castle and then they confirmed me as a bodyguard to Nkrumah, and then they put me in protection because Nkrumah at times went out at night. When he was going, those who were smart at the Castle had to follow him because bodyguards will not be in the house at night,” he said.

    Christian Blukoo explained further in an interview with JoyNews that although he could never speak about these things in the past due to the oath of secrecy, he feels safer now to talk about them. He described how on some of those days, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah would spend time on the beach behind the Independence Square, praying and engaging in other spiritual activities.

    “They used it call it secrecy but now, I’m free to speak. At times, he used to go to the seaside at the Black Star Square to consult the spiritual (sic) and like we do here by praying, he also used to do that: he’ll go to the seaside and pray. There were certain other things that he would do,” he narrated.

    The former bodyguard of the president also shared some deep details of some of the security operations he and others undertook for Kwame Nkrumah.

     

  • I’m tired of getting arrested, give us jobs or allow us to sell weed – Man to government

    A young man based in Ashaiman, Wisdom, has stated that the government of Ghana must provide jobs for the youths of Ashaiman, otherwise, the government must legalise the sale of weeds.

    According to Wisdom, he has been jobless for a long while and depended on weed to cater for himself and his family.

    Speaking on Ghetto Life Story on SVTV Africa, Wisdom revealed that he has been arrested severally for selling weed and remanded to two years in prison. He noted that the authorities sometimes arrest them without reason because they “know this area is a ghetto.”

    “I started selling because my family had nothing, and my work collapsed after my boss travelled. So I decided to get into that business to support my family.

    There are no jobs here, and we must ask the government why there are no jobs here. Imagine you have no food to eat in the morning, won’t you find ways to get money? I’ve done a lot of bad things.”

    Moreover, Wisdom pleaded with the government to provide jobs for the youths here because “companies do not even employ us when we mention Ashaiman. If they allow us to sell the weed, there will be no criminals.”

    Wisdom shared some of the effects weed has had on his life. According to him, he smokes for the calming effects because he is quick-tempered.

    “Cocaine is not good, but the youths mix it with weed these days. For me, I don’t do cocaine, but weed makes me think well,” Wisdom told DJ Nyaami.

  • The Youth lack relevant skills to land jobs – YEA

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Mr. Kofi Agyepong, claims that the high rate of youth unemployment in Ghana is caused by a shortage of qualified workers who can fill open positions.

    To that effect, he said, the youth were losing out on jobs, especially in the artisanal sector to artisans from neighbouring countries.

    “You want the best of masons to put up a building for you, you want the best of P.O.P done for you in your house, you want the best of plumbers to fix your pipes, and even painting, and you are directed to artisans from Togo because they deliver the best of these services,” he said.

    Mr Agyepong has, therefore, called for a change in the pattern of investments to ensure that more resources go into enhancing the technical and vocational skills “that will stay with our youth forever.”

    Speaking at the 2022 Job Fair in Sunyani, he said the situation was so dire that he doubted the capacity of the YEA to find young competent technicians in large numbers to fill up job vacancies that may be available.

     

    “I have been asking myself since I took over the agency if Tullow Ghana Limited asks me to supply them with 200 trained and certified electricians today, will I be able to provide them? If AngloGold Ashanti requests YEA to provide them with 500 trained and certified industrial machine engineers, will I be able to provide them?

    “If the Ghana Water Company requests 100 trained and certified plumbers for employment today, can I provide them?” he said.

    MrAgyapong commended the Ghanaian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GCC) together with the GIZ, who through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has organised the fair.

    He further commended the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for their continuous support in reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

    The CEO also urged young job seekers, while being relentless in their job hunt, to continuously upgrade their skills as they aspire to achieve their dreams.

    “Take every advantage of the fair and reach out to as many employers as you can. I entreat you to treat this event as just what it is: a job fair, not some sort of funfair,” he added.

    Source: Ghanaiantimes

  • Obuasi residents protest over worsening unemployment rate

    Scores of inhabitants within the mining town of Obuasi and other surrounding communities in the Ashanti Region are marching through major streets in the area to demonstrate over what they describe as the worsening unemployment situation in the area.

    The protestors, who are mainly the youth, are also calling on the management of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mine to release lands for them to mine on, since they accuse the company of not employing residents.

    The organizers of the demonstration say, as part of their protest, they will be petitioning the management of Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi mine over the matter.

    There is a heavy security presence as a number of police officers drawn from the Obuasi district command and the regional police are escorting the protestors.

    Source: Citinews

  • Shanghai lockdown: China unemployment rate near pandemic peak

    China’s jobless rate rose to 6.1% in April, the highest level since the 6.2% peak seen in the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic in February 2020.

    It comes as widening lockdowns led to a sharp slowdown in activity for the world’s second largest economy.

    Official figures also show retailers and manufacturers were hit hard.

    Full or partial lockdowns were imposed in dozens of cities in March and April, including a long shutdown of the commercial centre Shanghai.

    Chinese Premier Li Keqiang recently described the country’s employment situation “complicated and grim” following the worst outbreaks of the virus since 2020.

    Still, the government aims to keep the jobless rate below 5.5% for this year as a whole.

    The rise in unemployment came as lockdowns had an impact across the Chinese economy.

    Retail sales saw the biggest contraction since March 2020 as they shrank by 11.1% in April from a year earlier, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

    That was much worse than March’s 3.5% drop and missed the economists’ expectations of a 6.1% fall.

    At the same time industrial production fell by 2.9% from a year earlier, as measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus had a major impact on supply chains.

    That was the largest decline since February 2020 and marked a reversal of the 5% gain in March.

    However, Shanghai on Monday set out plans for the return of more normal life from the start of next month and the end of a lockdown that has lasted more than six weeks and contributed to the sharp slowdown of China’s economy.

    In the clearest timetable yet, Deputy Mayor Zong Ming said the reopening of the financial, manufacturing and trading hub would be carried out in stages, with movement curbs largely to remain in place until 21 May to prevent an increase of infections, before a gradual easing.

    Source: BBC

  • Make efforts to create own jobs Minister to youth

    Ghanaian youths looking for employment opportunities in the government sector have been urged to rather make the effort to create own jobs to become entrepreneurs.

    Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, who made the call, said “you should not think of getting employment and obtaining salary, but you should think of possibly becoming entrepreneurs who can open your own businesses.”

    Stressing that wealth is in the private sector, he indicated that “creating your own business is more sustainable than getting employment in the government or public sector where salary cannot sustain you.”

    Speaking at the Job, Career Entrepreneurship Fair in Kumasi on Thursday, the Regional Minister mentioned that “globally, the industrious people are mainly private entrepreneurs and not from the public sector and it was time for the unemployed youth, especially the graduates, to endeavor to create own businesses.”

    The two-day event which started on Thursday and ended yesterday and organized by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has seen huge crowd of youth trooping to the Prempeh Assembly Hall to interact with employers for vacant positions.

    According to the Regional Minister, the labour force in Ghana was about three million, but “government or public sector does not employ even one million, so if your focus is on government employment, then there is the need to think twice to become an entrepreneur.”

    He indicated that government, when it took power, realized the huge army of unemployed youth, especially graduates, and introduced the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo), which had given permanent jobs to some beneficiaries

    He said government was still bent on recruiting another batch “but as you look for government employment think of creating your own business.”

    Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, Justin Kodua, mentioned that the essence of the Agency was to create temporary jobs for the young men and women in the country, “but we are moving ahead toward a new direction whereby we are looking at permanent jobs for the youth.”

    He was full of hope that if participants would pay special attention to the details of what was transpiring, “definitely you will go home with something.”

    Mr. Kodua said GHC10 million had been earmarked to support those whose business plans and ideas would excel to set up their own businesses.

    He assured the youth with artisanal skills of recruitment as the Agency has rolled out such programmes as well as more room for those who would want to go into agriculture.

    On agriculture, he said, “We are not talking only about farming, but also processing, distribution, and export” and urged those with interest in agriculture to take advantage of the opportunity.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com

  • You can’t be using GH¢10,000 phones and be unemployed – Kamal-Deen advises Youth

    Deputy National Communications Director, Kamal-Deen Abdullai of NPP, has advised the youth in Ghana to develop the right attitude towards work.

    Kamal-Deen Abdullai was of a firm belief that a major cause of Ghana’s unemployment rate is the lackadaisical habits that some Ghanaians show when they find jobs and those who haven’t been employed yet too the mindset they have about work.

    He cited instances where a Ghanaian employee will be less committed to the progress of his or her job, lazying about which becomes a disincentive for employment.

    Looking at the ongoing immigration recruitment across the nation, he wondered how a person may describe himself/herself as unemployed when the person is showcasing an expensive iphone at the recruitment grounds.

    “Go and check the applicants for the immigration recruitment. Some are holding an iphone 12 and the latest phone in town but are in a queue looking for an immigration job. The Ghc 10,000 you’re using to buy the phone, that 10,000 can be a startup capital for something else but that person says I am unemployed,” he said.

    Kamal-Deen also expressed worry over the “make money quick” mentality of some youth.

    He urged the youth to set their priorities right and put up a good working attitude, believing such virtues will help bridge the unemployment gap.

    “Don’t use the starterpack capital to buy an iphone worth Ghc 12,000 because you want to develop your business. When you are given a loan to start a business, the first thing you’re thinking of is to buy a fresh car out of that loan. How do you pay back? . . . So, it’s about attitude. It is our way of life that won’t help us. We want to appear flamboyant . . . I think it’s a sad one,” he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”.

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Be conscious of your attitude to work – Graduates advised

    Graduates in Ghana have been advised to be conscious of their attitude towards work and be agents of change in the real world to determine how far they can go in life.

    “The purpose of education whether formal or informal is to empower an individual to help improve his or her immediate environment and beyond.”

    Mr Nathan Baidoo, Soft Skills Trainer and Mentor said this at the 1st graduation ceremony organised by Opportunity for Transformation in Africa (YOTA) through Pathways for Sustainable Employment for Women and Youth project (Paseway) funded by the German Corporation, BMZ, and in collaboration with Plan International and National Vocational and Technical Institute (NVTI).

    He said skills alone could not make one successful but attitude and urged the graduands to work on their attitude, be principled and humble in all their endeavours to make life simple and easier.

    Mr Baidoo noted that such qualities were indispensable to a brighter and prosperous working environment in the future.

    Madam Felicia Maku Quaye, Chief Executive Officer of Geofel Enterprise and Academic Trainer said, “it takes an individual who is diligent in his or her work to appear in the presence of great personalities”.

    She said the graduands having good attitudes and being diligent would give them opportunities in the working world even if there were fewer opportunities in the job market.

    Madam Maku Quaye urged them to strive and uphold their reputation in the working field to make the training given to them profitable.

    Madam Mawusi Nudekor Awity, Director General for TVET and formal NVTI Executive Director, in a speech read on her behalf by Mr John Konika Tino, Head of Informal Apprenticeship NVTI, said it was heartwarming to see people given an opportunity to be skilled in making a living for themselves and most importantly contribute to national development.

    She said NVTI’s goal was to bring quality training and skill development to young people and believed with initiatives and projects such as this was a step in the right direction.

    Madam Awity charged all stakeholders to help support the youth who were still lingering on the streets to enable them to have hope and a future and urged the graduates to work harder as they step into the business world.

    Mr Eric Saforo, Project Coordinator and Head of Skills and Innovation YOTA, said the purpose for the project was to provide formal employment for young people in the construction and hospitality sectors in which participants in Ashanti and Northern regions would undergo hospitality training while Greater Accra participants undergo Construction.

    He said the goal of the project was to train 4,050 young people between the ages of 15-35, adding that, there were four categories of participants they were working with which were the unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and micro-enterprise.

    Mr Saforo said the project would last until the end of 2023 and entreated young girls who wanted to venture into construction to apply.

    Mr Daniel Koffie and Mr John Bosco, graduands expressed their gratitude to the organisers for transforming lives.

    A total number of 229 participants graduated of which 100 were from the skilled and 129 from the semi-skilled category in construction, event decoration, plumbing, electrician, and painting and they were from 12 districts in the Greater Accra region.

    Source: GNA

  • We must invest in youth to accelerate Africa’s economic growth – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African governments to invest in the youth towards accelerating socio-economic development of the continent following the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    He underscored the need for African governments to create a conducive environment to empower the youth and tackle the mass youth unemployment.

    He called for investment in human resource through the provision of diversified training in technical and vocational education.

    That, he said, would enable them to explore the various opportunities provided by respective African economies for self-development and alleviation of poverty.

    “Youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb, which threatens social peace and cohesion therefore Africa must pay maximum attention to job creation,” the President stressed.

    President Akufo-Addo made the remarks in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia at the opening ceremony of the fourth edition of YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Accra on Wednesday.

    He said the African youth had the talents and capabilities to develop and would employ anything to improve their circumstances.

    The President entreated African governments to leverage on digital technology to improve the circumstances of their peoples as the world was in the era of fourth industrial revolution, where economies of countries thrive on technology.

    The YouthConnekt Africa Summit is an annual platform that connects youth from across Africa and beyond with policy influencers, political leaders, public/private and development sector institutions to engage, discuss, design and accelerate youth empowerment efforts at the continental level.

    It creates a platform to empower the youth to pursue entrepreneurship, innovation, network and trade among themselves towards the transformation of the African economies.

    The summit, first held in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2012, provides a platform for all partners involved in youth development and empowerment to synergise around policies, programmes and partnerships that connect the youth for continental transformation.

    This year’s event, the fourth edition, is hosted by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Youth Authority, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) attracted over 2,000 participants across Africa and beyond.

    The event is being attended by youth groups, Ministers of Youth and Sports, Government officials, academia, development partners, private sector and civil society representatives, as well as innovators and incubator labs, to addressing the most pressing youth demands within the post Covid-19 pandemic period.

    “Africa Beyond Aid: Positioning the Youth for the Post Covid Economy and AfCFTA Opportunities” is the theme chosen for the three-day event and comes off at the Accra International Conference Centre.

    The summit will offer a combination of high-level plenaries, panel discussions, keynote speeches, small group workshops, presentations, project pitching, and exhibitions, as well as cultural events, off-site activities and learning visits.

    In his welcome address, Mr Mustapha Ussif, Ghana’s Youth and Sports Minister, said the youth were key agent of change and development therefore it was imperative to involve them in all development initiatives to accelerate economic growth.

    He underscored the need to support the youth and provide them with robust programmes to enable them to obtain employable skills and sustainable jobs.

    He believed that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) programme provide an opportunity for the youth to achieve their potentials and thus encouraged African youth to trade among themselves.

    Ms Oulie Keita, the Executive Director of YouthConnekt Africa Hub, on her part, said the summit provided the platform for the youth to share ideas and proffer home-grown solutions to African challenges.

    She said the YouthConnekt Africa initiative was launched in 2012 in Kigali, Rwanda, and currently operational in 24 African nations.

    It is aimed at increasing opportunities for the youth in terms of equipping them with entrepreneurial skills and expertise towards inclusive socio-economic development and achieving the aspirations of the Africa Youth Charter, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2063 Africa Union Agenda.

    Source: GNA