Ghana Labour Minister Says Unemployment, Youth Jobs A Challenge For Every Country

Ghana Minister of Employment and Labour Nii Armah Ashitey visited several Livingston County businesses and the County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 9.

An educated workforce that also has the skills needed by employers is the challenge whether the business is in Geneseo, Rochester, or Ghana.

“A lot of guys coming out of university have knowledge and intelligence, but they don't have the skills to do the jobs. As we talk about education and the workforce it is the problem we have, and everyone has,” Nii Armah Ashitey, the Minister of Employment and Labor for Ghana, said in an interview before last week's Livingston County Board of Supervisors meeting.

“There is a mismatch between academics and the world of work that has to be breached,” he said.

Ashitey attended a portion of the board meeting as part of a day-long trip through Livingston County that also included visits to the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership in Mount Morris, SUNY Geneseo, American Rock Salt, Once Again Nut Butter and Noyes Health.

Ashitey, 64, a lawyer and member of Ghana's parliament, was in the United States at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Labor for a program on child labor. He took advantage of his time in the country to visit Rochester, where a cousin resides, and also explore what is happening in the area of employer and labor relations, in particular the areas of education and labor.

“Unemployment and youth is a challenge in every country,” said Ashitey, who was appointed labor minister in December 2012. “As a way to solve the unemployment problem, attention must be paid to skill development.”

Ghana has one of West Africa's strongest economies. The country's government is working to implement a number of programs and projects to promote entrepreneurship, especially among the youth, in order to tap into their enthusiasm and creativity.

Ghana's economy is fueled by exports of cocoa, gold and oil. The nation's president is seeking to reposition the country's economy to one with a strong manufacturing base that sells value-added products abroad while also creating its own demand for made-in-Ghana products to reduce imports and provide more jobs, especially for youth.

“It is amazing when you come to realize what goes on between industry and education,” he said. “If education is the key to (economic) development then technical and vocational training is a must to develop in the world of the workforce. Vocational and technical training can open a lot more doors than just education.”

Ashitey also visited Edison Tech, Monroe Community College and other locations in Rochester during a week-long stay that also included meetings with government officials.

While in the area, Ashitey said he hoped to share ideas and views on how to develop workforce infrastructure in his nation. He was also seeking possible partnerships.

Livingston County has had a business, education and cultural partnership with Ghana since 2007.

The relationship developed when the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce was approached by then Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy to partner with its Sister Cities program to form a Memorandum of Friendship with the New Juaben Traditional Area of Ghana, in the country's eastern region. The agreement would share and develop ideas on business, tourism, education and the arts and culture.

At the same time, SUNY Geneseo was beginning multiple partnerships in other regions of Ghana.

The memo was signed in 2008, and in 2009 then Chamber director Cynthia Oswald helped start the first Chamber of Commerce in New Juaben.

“I have kept the partnership alive even after retiring by working with King Daasebre Oti Boateng, traveling to Ghana and staying in touch with Rochester Sister Cities,” Oswald said.

In December, Oswald presented Boateng with four bags of surgical supplies from Noyes Health, where she is now the public relations director. She was also presented the Daasebre Award for Excellence for her efforts in Ghana.

SUNY Geneseo maintains a strong relationship by sending students and staff to Ghana for research and teaching. A geography professor from Geneseo spent a year in Ghana as a Fulbright Scholar where she taught and conducted research on gender and development. Ghana's university president is scheduled to visit Geneseo this week, and the country's chief justice is expected to visit in August.

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