He said the general economic slowdown in Ghana has worsened the already high unemployment situation in the country particularly among the youth. “I am aware that some efforts are being made to solve this problem, but it seems the efforts are taking a longer time to yield results,” Bishop Andam told the Government, adding “we have hundreds of young graduates idling around and still feeding on their parents, even though they have successfully graduated from various tertiary institutions“.
He indicated that as of 2015, graduate unemployment in Ghana stood at 271,000 – which figure he said relates to only tertiary institution graduates, much less those who couldn’t continue with post-secondary education. “It is mandatory for all of us to address these worrying issues before it explodes. The way forward is to give top priority if we are going to be successful in addressing this ‘ticking time bomb’ and associated increasing social vices”, Bishop Andam asserted in his 14-page delivery at the opening ceremony of the 55th Synod of the Kumasi Methodist Diocese.
Right Rev. Andam, who is not at peace with the galloping unemployment situation in Ghana, said the truth is that both the formal sector {public and private} are unable to absorb this colossal human resource produced by the nation’s tertiary institutions “Large number of youth who were unfortunate to continue their education beyond basic education have been compelled to hawk along the streets of Ghana, usually through harsher conditions as they try to eke out a living but then endangering their lives” he asserted.
Today, we even have a graduate unemployment movement in Ghana with national executives, adding that the repercussions of high unemployment proven to be the cause of a number of social ills and challenges. Bishop Andam told the congregation that Ghanaians are in a tight vacancy situation in the public sector, which has even necessitated a freeze of employment of new staff.
“The panacea, therefore, lies with the private sector, which has been tagged as the engine of growth, and as a nation we must create conditions for private sector to grow and accommodate the unemployed,” Very Rev Andam stated, adding “many industrial players question the calibre of graduates produced by the tertiary institutions for the job market.
Proffering solutions to the record unemployment in Ghana, the Methodist Bishop called on President John Dramani Mahama to create an enabling environment for more jobs to be created to absorb the hundreds of youth currently idling with no jobs.
“The Government in collaboration with all stakeholders including employers must as a matter of urgency review the curricula at the tertiary educational level and establish a strong network between industry and academia to quell this worrying problem,” he urged.
Whiles the Methodist Bishop urged Government to create conducive environment for private sector to strive, he also advised the youth to desist from the get-rich-quick mentality, stressing that it pays to start gradually to gain the needed experience to l be able to grow to the highest level.
“Look for opportunities available to go into self-employment to establish own businesses and create wealth” and added that Rome was not built in a day; you can start something with a meagre capital and with good management practice would grow to the highest level” he admonished Ghanaian youth.
On the plans of the Kumasi Diocese Methodist to equip the youth to be self-employed, he revealed that the Diocese has established a Methodist Entrepreneurship Development Programme (MEDP), with support from the Ghana Rural Enterprise Programme. Bishop Nyarko Andam, who is the 12th Chairman of synod and 5th Bishop of Kumasi Diocese since Methodist adopted Episcopacy, disclosed that a number of youths have been mobilized from bigger and smaller cities to be trained in various trade skills such as soap making, grass cutter rearing, mushroom cultivation and batik, tie and dye production and others.
He called on financial institutions to support these trainees on such critical mass of potential entrepreneurship venture to grow. “It is high time Churches do not only focus on spiritual growth of their members, but give equal attention to support the unemployed and economically weak members to become business minded and entrepreneurial. This will go a long way to curb unemployment in Ghana”.
On November polls, Bishop Andam called on Government to ensure there is a peace in Ghana before, during and after the elections. A piece of advice went to the Mrs. Charlotte Osei-led Electoral Commission that they should give hearing to all stakeholders and work towards a peaceful election.
The Bishop admonished political leaders to embark of clean campaign devoid of vulgar and inflammatory messages and advised Ghanaians to work for peace to the glory of God.
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