Focus on creative ideas, not capital – Dr. Akwasi Achampong to graduates

Dr Akwasi Achampong, Chancellor of Baldwin University College, Ghana, has challenged Ghanaian graduates to be more innovative by taking advantage of the existing opportunities to create their own jobs after school.

He says the heavy reliance on government to provide jobs is retrogressive, insisting that graduates are best positioned to help themselves, not government.

Speaking on GBC’s program, Moomen Tonight, Dr Akwasi Achampong, advised the youth to reflect on business ideas, not capital.

‘’Most often than not people are more concerned about the startup capital instead of reflecting on business ideas. Our graduates must stop thinking about capital because the issue is not about capital, but the best of innovative ideas,’’ he stressed.

While appreciating the prevailing economic challenges in the country, the medical practitioner said there are still massive investment prospects that the youth could explore.

‘’Travel to the rural communities and see the huge investment opportunities that exist in those areas. Our people must not be afraid to take risk and not be afraid to fail,’’ he added.

He added, ‘’When I first arrived in the United States in 1983 at the age of about 21, I was only thinking about money, money, but I soon came to the realization that the system there does not work that way. They expect people to be more creative and come up with concepts, so I had to think towards that direction.’’

Touching on Ghana’s educational system, Dr. Akwasi Achampong, lauded the education ministry for taking steps to introduce a new curricular to enhance the sector.

He said there is massive disconnect with what children in primary schools in Ghana learn and that of their counterparts in the developed countries.

He said Baldwin University College is an independent comprehensive institution which provides a value-centered educational experience that enhances intellectual, ethical and spiritual development of students.

‘’In the USA for instance, children are thought how to make bicycle, but the Ghanaian child is thought how to ride a bicycle and that is very worrying. Elsewhere, children are encouraged to ask questions, but what do we do to children who ask questions? We shut them up!’’

Against that backdrop, he said Baldwin College is determined to train professionals who would be more ingenious to be able to fit into the job marketing.

Watch the full interview below: