Self-employment- the solution to graduate unemployment - Principal

Kumasi (Ash), Nov. 22, GNA - Self employment is the main solution to graduate

unemployment problem in Ghana, Dr Lord Emmanuel Asamoah, Principal of the Garden

City University College (GCUC).
He said starting a business could be a very difficult undertaking, but with patience,

determination, zeal and self-denial, graduates would be able to succeed.

He was addressing the maiden graduation ceremony of the College at Kenyase

near Kumasi on Saturday, where degrees and diplomas were awarded to 88 candidates

comprising 24 ladies and 64 gentlemen for successfully completing programmes in business,

nursing and Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Sixteen of the graduates received first class honours.

Dr Asamoah indicated that millions of illiterates or semi-literates small scale businessmen

and women in the private sector, generated significant incomes sometimes much higher than

those in the formal sector.
He said if that was possible then there should be no justification for a university

trained graduate to stay idle for too long after graduation in name of waiting for job

opportunity from the government.
The Principal said the universities turned out large number of graduates, who enter

the job market each year with two main handicaps: either they hold relevant qualifications for

the job market but their number far exceeds demand or the graduates possess degrees that

woefully fall short of employer's expectation.
He said if these two problems were not addressed by government and by the

training institutions, graduation ceremonies would mark the beginning of a nightmare for the

majority of graduates with shattered dreams.
Dr Asamoah announced that the College despite its limited financial resources,

had provided GH¢32,080 as scholarships to support the education of 32 promising students

from deprived families in fulfilment of its social responsibilities.

He said the College had also earmarked GH¢497,995 for infrastructural

development that provides for a five-storey classroom block.

The first phase which comprised eight classrooms and offices, have been

completed with part of the funds set aside for the construction of hostel facilities at

Tewobaaba near Kumasi.
Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, the Vice Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah

University of Science and Technology (KNUST), praised the founder of the University and

management for nurturing the institution to this level.

He told the graduates that the lecturers and their parents have prepared the

grounds for their future and it behooved on them to build on it to become useful citizens.

Dr Benjamin Adu-Amankwa, Chairman of the University College Council said the

University was ready to expand and support educational programmes.

Mr Albert Acquah, Chancellor and Founder of the College said education is the

key to human development and urged people to continue to educate themselves in order to

provide their children with the experience that would help them to succeed in life.

GNA