By Kofi Asmah – Consultant, World Bank Group | Lawyer | Entrepreneur | Featured in Forbes
In May 2021, I interviewed a young man named Yaw Sakyi for an entry-level role. He stepped into the room with the confidence of someone ready to take on the world. Fresh out of university, he presented a polished CV full of promise — leadership titles, internships, honours. On paper, he was everything an employer could hope for.
But ten minutes into a simple research task, the truth surfaced.
Yaw couldn’t structure a memo.
He struggled to think critically.
He couldn’t meet a basic deadline.
It wasn’t his intelligence that failed him — it was his preparation.
Every year, thousands of young Ghanaians march out of graduation halls in caps and gowns, stepping proudly into a world that unfortunately has no real place prepared for them. Some spend years searching for jobs; others reject opportunities because the salary doesn’t match their expectations.
Meanwhile, our bold Free SHS policy, though well-intentioned and transformational, has created a ripple effect that our tertiary institutions were not fully equipped to handle. The surge in student enrollment has stretched resources thin. Academic quality has diluted. Personal mentorship — once the heart of higher education — is slowly disappearing.
Lecturers now teach overcrowded classes. There’s little room for curiosity, debate, creativity, or practical problem-solving. And with a job market tightening every year, many graduates are rushing into master’s programs or law school, hoping that another certificate might be the magic key to employability.
The National Service Scheme, once a brilliant bridge between school and the world of work, has become more symbolic than empowering. Too many graduates spend their service year filing papers, making photocopies, or serving tea. They leave with frustration — not experience.
It is time for a reset.
National Service must evolve into a National Skills and Entrepreneurship Development Year. One that integrates:
- Practical digital skills
- Mentorship
- Real business incubation
- Civic responsibility
- Industry-led training
Graduates should walk away not just with memories — but with a skill, a tested business idea, or a professional certification.
Other countries have done this successfully.
Singapore tied education to real industry demand.
Rwanda connected young people to internships and startup capital.
India’s Skill India Mission trained millions in practical trades, reshaping local economies and generating employment from the ground up.
Ghana must take similar bold steps.
Our Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) was progressive for its time, but the world of work has evolved. Today’s policies need to recognize new employment realities — apprenticeships, remote work, freelancing, and startup culture. We need incentives for companies that train young people, and protection for those entering non-traditional workspaces.
And at the heart of it all, entrepreneurship must become compulsory in our tertiary institutions — not as theory, but as hands-on training. Let students build, pitch, fail, innovate, and try again. Let them graduate with more than a certificate — let them leave with capacity.
Ghana’s youth are brilliant, ambitious, and resilient. What they need is not just education, but preparation. Not just opportunity, but access. Not just certificates, but skills that matter in today’s world.
The future belongs to countries that equip their young people to create, innovate, and lead. Ghana must be one of them.
#YouthUnemployment
#TalentDevelopment
#WorkforceDevelopment
#EconomicEmpowerment
