The Youth Are Not Lazy, They’re Underserved

Each year, thousands of young Ghanaians graduate from universities, vocational institutions, and senior high schools with one goal in mind: a better life. But the bitter reality is that many of them find themselves sitting idle at home, roaming the streets in search of non-existent jobs, or engaging in low paying work far below their potential. The growing frustration among the youth is not just a social issue but rather a ticking time bomb.

According to data from the Ghana Statistical Service, youth unemployment consistently hovers around 20%, with a much larger percentage underemployed or stuck in the informal sector. In a country where over 57% of the population is under the age of 25, this is nothing short of a crisis. Despite countless youth focused campaigns and slogans, the average Ghanaian youth today feels more disconnected from national development than ever before.

Let us be clear, Ghanaian youth are not lazy. They are innovative, determined, and brimming with potential. What they lack is not ambition but access. Yes, access to capital, access to quality training, access to mentorship, and most critically, access to opportunity. They are underserved by a system that often fails to match education with employability, and policy with implementation.

Too often, government led youth initiatives are designed to look good on paper but fall short in practice. Numerous skills training programs are launched with media fanfare but suffer from poor coordination, lack of follow up, and inadequate support structures. Entrepreneurship is now the default prescription for youth joblessness, but how does one build a business with no startup capital, no formal financial history, and no access to affordable credit? We cannot continue to romanticize entrepreneurship as a solution when the ecosystem needed to sustain it is so broken.

Moreover, the quality of our education system leaves much to be desired. While significant strides have been made in expanding access particularly through policies like the Free Senior High School, questions remain about the relevance of the curriculum to today’s labor market. Many graduates emerge with degrees but little practical experience, and often, without the soft or digital skills required in a fast evolving global economy.

This is where Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) comes in but even that sector has suffered from chronic underfunding, a lack of modern tools and facilities, and a deep rooted societal stigma. Parents and students alike often see vocational training as a last resort rather than a first class option. If we want to truly solve youth unemployment, we must not only invest more in TVET but also rebrand it. Germany and South Korea built strong economies on the back of skilled trades. Why can’t Ghana do the same?

Another critical area is mentorship. Young people often lack guidance, that is someone to help them navigate their career paths, business decisions, or even emotional struggles. Establishing nationwide mentorship networks linking seasoned professionals with ambitious youth could have a transformative impact. We need more structured support systems, not just one off speeches at summits.

Equally important is the role of the private sector. Government alone cannot absorb the workforce being churned out each year. The private sector must be supported and incentivized to hire young people through tax breaks, reduced regulatory bottlenecks, and public private partnerships. At the same time, investment in infrastructure especially in technology, agriculture, and green energy can open up new industries and employment avenues for the youth.

There’s also a cultural shift needed. We must move away from the narrative that portrays youth as entitled or impatient. This mindset not only ignores the structural barriers they face but also discourages honest conversations about solutions. Ghana’s youth are not asking for handouts, they’re asking for a fair shot. A chance to compete. A seat at the table.

We’ve seen what happens when youth are sidelined, the growing frustration, increased migration, crime, and political apathy. We must remember that every missed opportunity for a young person is a missed opportunity for national progress. As Nelson Mandela once said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”

In all of this, the political class must lead with sincerity. Youth empowerment should not be reduced to campaign slogans or job-or-votes schemes. It should be at the heart of our national development strategy. Investing in young people is not charity, it is common sense. They are the ones who will build the Ghana we all dream of. But we must equip them to do so. A nation that fails to prepare its youth for the future is preparing itself for failure. Ghana must choose wisely.