(VIDEO) Ghana Must Invest Heavily in Technical Skills Training for Youth – Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader warns unemployment could become a security threat without stronger focus on vocational training
- Afenyo-Markin calls for increased investment in technical and vocational skills training.
- Says overreliance on academic degrees leaves many youths unemployed.
- Warns growing unemployment could pose a serious national security risk.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the government to significantly increase investment in technical and vocational training to address the country’s rising youth unemployment.
According to him, many young people focus primarily on obtaining tertiary degrees and, after graduation, expect to secure white-collar jobs, which have become increasingly scarce. Meanwhile, numerous employment opportunities exist in technical fields created by both government and private individuals, but these roles often go unfilled by Ghanaians due to a lack of relevant skills.
He noted that, as a result, foreigners from countries such as Togo and Nigeria are taking advantage of these opportunities, leaving many Ghanaian youths unemployed.
Afenyo-Markin stressed the need for a shift in national priorities toward equipping citizens with practical skills that match available jobs. He warned that failure to address the issue could lead to serious consequences, as rising unemployment poses a potential security threat if frustrated youth take to the streets.
He made these remarks in Parliament during deliberations on a bill to establish a University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences at Bunsu in the Eastern Region.
From Martin Kwabena Ahwireng Quaye.
