The Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon Simon Osei Mensah has challenged Universities in Ghana to explore further avenues to develop more career-specific courses and programmes for students in order to reduce the high rate of graduate unemployment in the country.

According to him, the ruling Government was committed to creating more job opportunities for the graduates and youth of this country, which effort he said could be enhanced if private individuals are equipped with the requisite skills and knowledge to create their own employment.

Speaking at the 23rd Congregation of Kumasi Campus of the University of Education Winneba, the Minister said “tertiary education as you all know, is key to the development of the country in view of the fact that it is through that process that students acquire knowledge and the skills for critical thinking to be able to objectively and scientifically analyze situations towards finding solutions to the varied socio-economic challenges confronting the nation”

Mr. Osei Mensah emphasized that the government would continue to make adequate provision for research at the various tertiary institutions to facilitate innovation in technology and emphasize on the continuous linkage of academia to industry.

The Ashanti Regional Minister charged the graduands to continue to acquire more knowledge maintaining that “wisdom acquisition is a moral duty because it is through continuous learning that we can add to knowledge of mankind”.

“Let me urge my granduands; don’t stop learning, stay focused, disciplined and work hard towards achieving your goals because real success depends on you as the young energetic, knowledgeable people pregnant with new ideas to develop mother Ghana”.

The Minister, however, commended the University of Education Winneba for producing relevant human resource for various sectors of the economy especially those who are still making indelible marks in areas they are serving.