CEDI Ghana To Help Address Unemployment In Ghana

The Community and Entrepreneurial Development Initiative commonly called CEDI Ghana on Thursday 17th of August, held an advocacy forum at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra to address poverty and unemployment in Ghana.

The one-day International Symposium which was sponsored by BUSAC Fund was attended by foreign diplomats, government ministers, academicians and business expert under the theme, “Youth Unemployment, A call for Industrialization”.

This symposium was chaired by Hon. Dr. Margaret Amoakohene, member of the Council of State, with Moderators as Prof. Nick K. Nketiah, Executive Member of United Nation Association and Dr. Gabriel Eshun, Senior Lecturer at KNUST and Executive Member of CEDI Ghana with other dignitaries as Prof. Dr. Lawrence Lowell, Lecturer at Valley View University and Executive Director of CEDI Ghana, Prof. Stephen Adei, First Rector of GIMPA, Hon. Bright Wireko Brobbey, Deputy Minister of Employment, Hon. George Oduro, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Majdoub, Board Chairman of CEDI Ghana, Sheikh Dr. Amin Bonsu, Founder of Amin Scientific Hospital, Mr. Robert K. Poku Kyei, Technical Advisor to the Senior Minister, representing the Senior Minister, Mr. Pinkrah Kwaku Kingsley, CEO of CEDI Ghana, Ms. Cintia Silva, Economic and Commercial Sector leader, representing the Brazilian Embassy, Mr. Theophilus Ayugane, Economic Leader representing the Netherland Embassy, Mr. Sampson Abankwah, Private Sector Leader, representing the Trade Ministry, Mrs. Janet Nyame, Secretary General of United Nation Association and many others.

Speaking at the symposium, Mr. Robert K. PokuKyei who represented the Senior Minister said when unemployment is too high, it lends itself to anti-social behaviour which we have been witnessing over the years and the Government of Ghana is doing its utmost best to solve this menace.

He further stated that, the government has made job creation its priority and instituted some mechanism to curb it some of which includes one district one factory, one village one dam, national entrepreneurship and innovation programme, tax rebate and excise duty and levies reduction and others.

Hon. Bright WirekoBrobbey, Deputy Minister of Employment in his address also stated that his ministry is also doing its utmost best to fight poverty and unemployment in the country and they have increase the National Daily Minimum Wage from GH¢8.80 to GH¢9.68 which is a 10% increment with effect from next year 2018. This measure is intended to improve the living standards of Ghanaians.

He further stated that the ministry will soon launch a comprehensive database which will match job seekers with the available jobs in the system. This portal will facilitate the youth to get information of availability of suitable jobs and will also guide youth of Ghana to the employment opportunities and related career information.

Prof. Stephen Adei, First Rector of GIMPA also stated that labour market inefficiencies, high interest rates, policy instability, inflation, poor work ethic and corruption in public offices has all contributed to unemployment we are facing in the country. Added to this was lack of entrepreneurial skills and poor attitudes to work in SMEs and agriculture.

He advised that we improve national competitiveness generally and develop infrastructure in the energy sector, improve the quality of primary education, and give young people employable skills through credible national apprenticeship schemes and vocational training.

He stressed that the major key to solving the youth unemployment problem in Ghana is modernization of our agriculture, industrialization and entrepreneurship.

Prof. Dr. Lawrence Lowell, Executive Director of CEDI Ghana also speaking at the symposium stated that the government should provide good banking system policy with less interest and flexible payment that support businesses and also pass law to protect businesses.

He further advised that, the government should establish training centres at various communities, districts, or regions and then tailor retraining programs to support skills empowerment and knowledge acquisition in line with the industrial development while also providing research centres to promote experimentation.

He also advised government to make industrialization policy that will ensure result delivery and accountability and to allow greater percentage of the ownership of the industries to be Ghanaians.

Alhaji Abdul - Lateef Majdoub, Board Chairman of CEDI Ghana and Mr. Pinkrah Kwaku Kingsley, Chief Executive Officer of CEDI Ghana in their speech stated that they will continue to support the government in its agenda of job creation as social partner organization in solving unemployment in the country. In an exclusive interview with Mr. Pinkrah Kwaku Kinsley on what has caused graduate unemployment in the country, he said although high interest rates, policy instability, inflation, poor work ethics and corruption in public offices has all contributed to unemployment in our country, the main cause of graduate unemployment in Ghana to him is the rapid population growth paralleling a shrinking job market.

Today, universities and polytechnics churn out thousands of graduates who cannot be absorb into the job market. Not less than 70,000 graduates are produced by the tertiary institutions every year and the declining employment opportunities have steadily failed to absorb these graduates. He further said, he is not surprise the World Bank estimated youth unemployment to be 48% in the country.

The symposium ended with a round table discussion which proposed possible solution to the President of Ghana for consideration.