The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has urged Ghanaian youth to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and cooperatives as key pathways to sustainable livelihoods and national development.
Speaking at the African Youth Day Ministerial Youth Dialogue in Accra, on the theme “Accountability, Policy, and Youth-led Solutions for National Development,” Dr. Pelpuo called on young people to form cooperatives as a sustainable way to create jobs and support one another.
“If you want to go into mining, we will work with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. If you prefer farming, we will link you with the Ministry of Agriculture. For trade and enterprise, we will collaborate with the Ghana Enterprises Agency,” he explained.
The Minister emphasized that young people across the country continue to express a desire for skill development and self-reliance rather than mere financial handouts.
“Young people don’t want people to give them money – they want to develop themselves. Many who are unemployed wish to go back to school or acquire skills to be productive,” he said.
Responding to proposals from the youth for the establishment of regional employment and information desks, Dr. Pelpuo announced that the Ministry is developing a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) to provide real-time job data and opportunities across the country.
“The system will allow you to find all available jobs in Ghana and apply electronically. By next year, we expect both regional and district job information desks to be operational,” he stated.
He also disclosed ongoing collaborations with other ministries to formalize graduate placement, apprenticeship, and overseas job programs, stressing government’s commitment to creating safe and structured pathways for Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad.
Touching on the need for fiscal prudence in public employment, Dr. Pelpuo noted that while government continues to regularize the employment of teachers and nurses, the public sector alone cannot absorb all job seekers.
He therefore encouraged the youth to explore opportunities within the private and informal sectors. “The formal sector is not the only place to work. Let us think differently, innovate, and create opportunities that are uniquely Ghanaian,” he urged.
Citing global youth-led innovations such as Facebook, Microsoft, and TikTok, the Minister challenged Ghanaian youth to develop homegrown solutions that can transform society.
“A young Kenyan developed mobile money, and it transformed Africa. What will the young Ghanaian create for Ghana?” he asked.
Dr. Pelpuo concluded by urging the youth to make productive use of their time and talents. “Youth is a transition – you can’t be young forever. By the time you become an adult, you should have achieved something meaningful,” he advised.
Source: Public Affairs Unit, MLJE
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