Features
When job seeking by our graduate youth turns bloody at Youth Employment Agency Fair
Employment is a relationship between two parties, usually based on a contract where work is paid for. Employees work for a payment, which may be in the form of an hourly wage for piece of work or an annual salary depending on the type of work an employee does or the sector he or she works. On the other hand, unemployment, refers to individuals who are employable and actively seeking for a job but are unable to find jobs.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN GHANA
In Ghana, the unemployment rate in percentage is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the number of all currently employed individuals in the labour force. The current unemployment rate in our country at the moment is expected to reach 4.70 per cent by the end of 2021, according to Trading Economics
Global Models and analyst expectations. In the long-term, the country’s unemployment rate is projected to trend around 4.50 per cent in 2022 and 4.30 per cent in 2023, according to our econometric models.
For the benefit of my patrons, readers and Ghanaians in general, it is important to give a few statistics in percentage about the unemployment rate in the country between 2016 and 2020. In 2016, we recorded 5.45 per cent, 2017, 4.22 per cent, 2018, 4.16 per cent, 2019, 4.12 per cent and 4.53 per cent in 2020 These variations in figures about the country’s unemployment rate show the level of insecurity about the future of our graduates who are churned out yearly from our universities and other professional educational institutions. It is of interest to know that in Ghana today, there is, Unemployed University Graduates Association. The National Labour Commission (NLC) estimates a staggering unemployment figure of 700,000. It appears that no coordinated strategies have been fashioned out to address the unemployment problem in our country.
CHAOTIC SITUATION AT YEA FAIR
The recent maiden Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Fair held at the Accra International Conference Centre on September 10, 2021, which resulted in a stampede as a result of the large attendance of unemployed youth who had thronged the centre to seek for jobs exposed the rate of job insecurity in our country.
The YEA held the event to help connect job seekers to employers. As part of the event, there was supposed to be live recruitment where over 100 companies were reported to have been present to do instant recruitment. However, the situation turned chaotic as the turnout was overwhelming. Video recordings of the event showed how the police had a difficult task in controlling the crowd. It showed also broken glasses soiled with droplets of blood on the floor. A number of these job seekers were injured in the process.
What transpired at the YEA fair in Accra the nation’s capital, really gives cause for worry and concern about the future of the teeming youth who have come out of our educational institutions and looking for non-existing jobs.
HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTRY
The problem of unemployment in this country has been in existence for so many years and governments have never found a cure to this serious canker. Tried as they could, none of them has been able to address this situation as it continues to worsen. The way the country’s education system is currently structured, has also contributed to the churning out of more graduates into the system with no jobs to absorb them even with their marvellous performance in their education. It will be of interest to know that First Class and Master Degree holders as well as those with Doctorate degrees are finding it very difficult to get jobs. This thorny situation has facilitated the brain drain of qualified graduates to other countries to seek greener pastures at the expense of the country’s development. Medical doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals trained with the hard earned foreign exchange, are serving in various capacities in other countries through no fault of theirs because of lack of employment. Indeed, this is a worrying signal we need to address with dispatch.
COUNTRY NOT KEEPING FAITH WITH THE PEOPLE
It is a fact that our economy has not kept faith with the people, hence the huge backlog of unemployment rate in our dear country. The unemployment rate which has become a national security issue is getting more and more desperate and can explode at any time considering what is happening and we need to adopt special measures to address the situation. The problem as it stands now, should give the leaders of this country, a lot of headache and sleepless night. We need to bring all the think tanks together in a major summit to brainstorm on this challenging situation and the way forward.
UNEMPLOYMENT CONTRIBUTING TO CRIMES, CORRUPTION ETC
It is a fact that the rise in crime wave, corruption and other negative practices in our country, can be attributed to desperation among the youth. Some of our idled youth have taken advantage of the situation to engage in all manner of corruption and crime related issues to make a living. Available statistics indicate that most of these heinous crimes in the country are carried out by the youth. We have been paying lip-service in this country for far too long and we need to wake up from our slumber and be proactive in dealing with some of these situations that are pushing the clock of progress backwards.
This country can easily rise above these difficulties if we are able to support our local industries and provide them with the needed resources and inputs to expand production. By so doing, we will be able to absorb the teeming unemployed graduates and provide them with the necessary jobs. Our local textile industries and manufacturing companies are dying gradually and we look on unconcerned. The agriculture sector needs to be revamped and modernised in line with the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ agenda of the government to attract and encourage the youth to embrace the concept and work in that lucrative sector.
REVAMPING OUR INDUSTRIES TO ATTRACT UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES
We have abundance of raw materials in this country but how to process them into finished goods has been our bane. The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), GIHOC manufacturing companies and the host of other companies which are facing problems need to be capitalised and revamped to attract foreign investments so that they can employ most of our unemployed youth who are roaming the streets daily in search of jobs.
It is high time we limited the importation of foreign goods which we can manufacture locally and rather built and strengthened our local industries to produce quality goods for our markets. Spending the chunk of our foreign exchange reserves to procure foreign goods is not in the interest of this country which abounds in human talents. Our human resources are among the best in the whole world and that is why many foreign countries continue to knock on our doors for our graduates to help them restructure their economies.
Our leaders need to put an end to the wasteful spending on unnecessary things that do not help in the growth of the economy and channel our meagre resources into productive ventures so as to create the needed jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
