Guess What? Another national service period is about ending! And what next? Well, your prediction is right; aside the 91,871 new service personnel who are ready to start their service from September 1, over 70,000 new graduates will be released into the Ghanaian economy by end of July! Adding on to the existing thousands of unemployed graduates who have evolved into several associations. But should that be the case? The Ghanaian graduates should definitely be blamed for their joblessness.

The issue of unemployment has become such a big one in Ghana. Unemployment rate for Ghana is 11.9% and is particularly high among 15 to 24 years olds (25.9%). This has resulted in several strikes and industrial actions recorded from the Ghanaian youths across various sectors demanding for job from the Government. Who should we blame for the dare unemployment situation? Is it the students/new graduate, the government or the education system? As much as the government and the education system contribute to this mess, I argue that the student or new graduate should take personal responsibility!

Why Do You Need a Job?
Do you really need a job? Wait, why should you look up to your Government for a job? Why do you expect someone to employ you? What did you spend your three years in either Technical University, College of Health or four years in University studying? Does it mean that after four years of a university degree you can’t even think for yourself? Neither can you create any business or micro-venture to manage? Is it how far our education system has fallen or how incapable our new graduates are? Unfortunately, these new graduates spent years in school engaging in all sort of fun and unproductive activities without little preparation for the world of work. Then once they graduate, they want to work at the World Bank! How unrealistic they are! Wake up to reality Ghanaian youth!

A1 Bread CEO Saga – the Rise of a Giant!
I believe we can learn from the example of the CEO of A1 Bread. I personally bought one of such bread this week in Accra and can testify of the quality of it. This is a young graduate from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUT) who completed school and never looked up to anyone for a job. He created one for himself. You can call him all sort of names yet he even comes to sell bread himself on the road in a Range Rover. He is an inspiration to us all and new graduates should learn and follow his example. I understand that you might argue that where is the capital to start? Well, in my next article I would take time to share with you very practical and innovative ways to raise capital to start any business of your choice. Just stay connected.

Don’t Follow Tradition as Usual
Traditionally, most parents have in mind the kind of career they want their children to pursue. As a result, parents force their children to pursue some course of study in school. Then they tell them; go to school, learn hard, complete and get a job. This job-pursuing mentality has robbed the Ghanaian youths for decades. This even gets worse when the educational systems offer theoretical training that has little relevance or application on the job market. It’s time to tell our children: go to school, learn hard, complete and create your own business! That is the new paradigm shifts!

The Ghanaian Graduates Should Take Responsibility

Brian Tracy said that accepting responsibility for your life and situation is the leap from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, it’s a mark of immaturity to always blames others for your situation except yourself. The truth is, you can continue to put blame on Government or someone else for your jobless situation. But who really cares about you? Who really feels your pain, anxiety and suffering because you have no job? Which person in government is really thinking about you and doing everything to change your situation? Trust me, nobody is!

Beloved, face reality, you are sitting by your fire and knows how hot and harsh it is. Until you accept the reality that life is how you make it and take a stern decision to do something to turn your situation around, nothing will change.

The Training Giant is Here - Kwame Awusi & Associates

Kwame Awusi & Associates is here to help the new graduates and young professionals to acquire skills that will position them for the world of work or entrepreneurship. You do agree with me that even if you take the job path, there is a great disconnect between what you learn in school and what pertains on job. And Kwame Awusi & Associates is in to help bring the gap between theory and practice. Our passion is to see you become better and create wealth for yourself using their gifts, talents and skill sets. Our mission is “to empower people to create wealth with a mission through training and executive mentoring”.