Youthful age is known for being a period full of zeal and eagerness to venture into new endeavours. The period is to provide an individual ample time and liberty to plan and prepare for a quality and self-satisfying future.
But for the Ghanaian youth, these are mere concepts with their realisation being a fiasco as they are met with hopelessness, a fuzzy tomorrow, and deprived of opportunities that could enable them to be of immense importance to their families and society at large.
Data from the Ghana Statistical Service from the 2021 Population and Housing Census shows that 13.4 percent of Ghana’s active population is unemployed. Every year thousands of students graduate from the various tertiary institutions of Ghana and only a handful get temporary or permanent employment.
In a few weeks, thousands of fresh graduates will be added to the list of unemployed graduates. Various demonstrations and agitations have sprung up both physically and on social media to draw attention to this canker.
The harsh reality is that there are simply no jobs to be found in Ghana. The economy is struggling and the unemployment rate is sky-high. Even if you are lucky enough to find a job, you will likely be underemployed and not earn enough to support yourself or your family. This situation is especially difficult for young people who are just entering the workforce.
They are forced to compete against a large pool of applicants for limited positions. Many end up taking low-paying jobs that are not related to their field of study just to try and make ends meet. The situation is bleak and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. It is hard to see how the country can progress when so many youthful citizens cannot find work.
Older men sit in the helms of affairs and take decisions that were applicable two decades ago. The young ones are often blamed when they use dubious means to fend for themselves but older people who are to go on retirement are reluctant to vacate their posts. It is very sad when you are a young graduate if you did not engage in students’ politics or no big man in Ghana knows you.
The Fate of the Lucky Ones
Young graduates who are fortunate enough will occasionally land positions in the private and, in a few cases, the public sector, with gross salaries ranging from GHS 1,500 to GHS 2,500.
Then, a very acceptable single room for housing costs between GHS600 and GHS800 per month, with landlords requiring a two-year upfront payment.
Rent takes up almost your whole annual pay in a single day. Other crucial essentials like transportation, food, healthcare, and others have not been incorporated. We are expected to concentrate only on our 8 am–5 pm work, look respectable, use our creativity, enhance our education, give it our all, and be honest.
On top of all these, there is an even greater crisis facing young adults who are determined to start their businesses. Heavy taxes are being applied while foreign conglomerates are given tax exemption. The fortunate ones who are able to successfully roll out plans have corrupt officials who want bribes from businesses looking to start up. Young entrepreneurs have their hands tied without any ability to do anything about it.
As long as the lack of opportunity continues and young ones are not favoured, unemployment rates will stay high and entrepreneurship won’t flourish
Nice piece bro. It is very sad for the youth in Ghana oo. It seems like there is no future for them. The situation is even worse for the boys cos hmmm the girls are always favoured over them.
I couldn’t less agree. The top people really don’t care about the youth.
Hmm we the younger ones that are building from ground zero are really suffering. Sometimes you work for two to three years only to save and give it to your landlords and ladies. It is very sad that the leadership of the country does little or nothing about the youth. All these monies used to support these sportsmen that do not bring us any benefits can be used to invest in the youth but I guess the opposite is being done. Money looted by these politicians too can also help in a long way.
The country will continue to be this way if time and money are not invested in their younger generations. Sometimes do not know what the leaders of some countries think though. Many young Africans are moving out of their lands and helping other countries develop, yet they do not see this as a threat to the future development of their nations.