The 2018 edition of the Eastern Regional job camp seminar has taken place at the Mikaddo Plaza in Koforidua with a call on government to tackle youth unemployment.
The programme, which saw hundreds of participants in attendance is a free networking forum that brings young people together to discuss issues relating to unemployment in Ghana.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7CpUfzoWgiKhZwVaV0cz065Wlbp0xFw7″]Students from the Koforidua Technical University, All Nations University, SDA Training College, personnel and beneficiaries from Youth Employment Agency, and a number of unemployed graduates within the regional capital and other districts such as Akim Oda, Nkawkaw, Yilo and Manya Krobo, participated in this year’s edition.
The event, organized by the GhanaThink Foundation in partnership with STAR-Ghana, and Citi FM as the official media partner, brought together resource personnel from the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, academia and youth representatives.
Some topics discussed centered on government’s plans for job creation as well as opportunities available in partnership with private sector, academia or youth.
Participants were also educated on the factors determining job opportunities available in the private sector, the toughest challenges with recruitment and what academic institutions in Ghana are doing to bridge the skills gap between academia and industry,
Some participants expressed their satisfaction with the event.
Abiba Rafia, a young entrepreneur who is into soap and detergent production shared her experience, saying “A friend invited me to this training and I must say I am really impressed with everything so far…The panel knew what they were talking about and addressed our concerns and questions appropriately. As a young entrepreneur, the knowledge and in-depth knowledge gained here will help me expand my business because I now know how and why I need to partner others and how to strategize and enter into other markets.”
Ato Ulzen Appiah, the Director of Ghana Think Foundation in a Citi News interview expressed worry about the increasing rate of unemployment in the country.
“The number of students who graduate yearly from our universities and other training institutions is no joke. A chunk of them come out with no job or opportunity for them out there and it is sometimes not easy for their families and that forms part of the reasons why we put together this job camp to throw more light on job opportunities available for them, and to give them a fair idea on ventures and businesses they can venture into and also give them the opportunity to meet potential investors and partners.”
Ato Appiah also called on the government and private organizations to seize opportunities available for the acquisition of arable lands in the Eastern Region and invest there.
“I am quite amazed at the extent of vast land here in the Eastern Region, Somanya, Oda, Nkawkaw, Suhum, Akosombo, Akropong and other towns, which are battling Koforidua the capital for more interventions. I will advise government and other private firms to move into those communities and site companies and industries to create more jobs for the youth in the region to help reduce the alarming unemployment rate in the country”.
–
By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
