‘Young people will chase politicians away if something drastic is not done’ – Prof Frimpong-Boateng warns

Former Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has raised concerns about the difficulties confronting young Ghanaians, warning that continued economic hardship could have serious consequences for the country’s political leadership.

He said many young professionals were struggling to build the lives they had worked towards, with challenges surrounding employment, housing, marriage and the cost of meeting everyday needs becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng made the remarks during an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, September 16, where he called for a major rethink of Ghana’s development priorities.

“I believe that something drastic must happen. Either we change our habits, or one day these young people come and chase us away, because they cannot postpone their dreams. It is a very serious matter,” he said.

He pointed specifically to the circumstances of young people entering professions such as teaching, nursing and policing, questioning whether their earnings gave them a realistic opportunity to establish independent lives.

“If I look at a young teacher, somebody, a nurse, a policeman, who has qualified, how do you get, and the sort of salaries that you are given, how do you make it in life? When do you decide to marry tomorrow, where are you going to stay?” he asked.

The former minister said the cost of housing, food and transportation was placing considerable strain on young people and affecting their ability to pursue long-term personal goals.

Drawing on his own experience as a young professional in Germany, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said he had previously been able to provide for his family, acquire a house and create employment without depending on financial support from others.

“You know, look, I’ve not needed any help from anybody. I’ve educated my children, built whatever I want to build. Never done, even create jobs for people, but that is no longer there,” he said.

He also questioned whether Ghana was providing the younger generation with sufficient examples of progress and opportunity, saying the circumstances confronting them were making it harder for them to accept prolonged sacrifices.

“We are not giving any good examples to the younger generation, and they are suffering. You know, they don’t want to sacrifice for anything,” he said.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, however, maintained that Ghana’s situation could still improve if meaningful changes were introduced. “So long as we are alive, there’s hope,” he said.