Editorial
Engage youth in agriculture for jobs and food security
Encouragement of youth involvement in agriculture can help develop jobs for them and assure food security as farming is one of the sectors that can reduce unemployment in the nation.
It is remarkable that the majority of Ghana’s youth complain about unemployment rather than working in agriculture to support them. Ghana has a large amount of agricultural land.
Farmers have improved their agricultural practices over the years, becoming more independent and some even earning accolades locally, nationally, or even worldwide.
While there is a propensity for young people to go to cities and towns in quest of unattainable greener pastures, when one travels outside of Accra to the hinterlands, one typically finds vast undeveloped arable fields.
Farming offers the young generation the ability to make a difference by producing enough food to feed themselves, their families, and even the country, therefore it is surprising that they are not motivated to take use of this potential.
An illustration of this is the National Service Scheme’s (NSS) investment in a large-scale commercial farming operation at Abotantire in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of the Ashanti Region as part of the Sekyere Kumawu Economic Enclave Project (SKEEP).
The goal is to prepare young people to work in commercial agriculture with a concentration on the production of maize, rice, soy, catfish, tilapia, and poultry.
When the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum visited the place recently with some executives of the NSS they were so impressed with what they saw as the investment has yielded much results to provide food for the National Buffer Stock Company (NABCO) to support the free senior high school (SHS) and school-feeding programmes.
The project is admirable, and the Spectator thinks that if it is adopted by other regions, sustained farming will provide the future generation a great chance to improve food security, reduce starvation, and aid in the agricultural sector’s adaptation to climate change.
The youth need education, technical training, and resources like land and money to contribute to local, national, and global development if they are to view agriculture as a lucrative and exciting career path.
Families and schools can start a backyard garden (as was done in the past during the operation-feed-yourself programme) to grow vegetables like tomatoes, okra, and peppers at home and in schools so that the youth can practise farming until it becomes part of them.
There is a need for alternatives to maintain food security in these challenging economic times because there are few resources and the government is struggling to feed pupils due to the rising number of students attending SHS.
Dear Editor,
I’m writing to bring attention to a disturbing situation in Mempeasem, a suburb of East Legon in the Ayawaso West municipality of Accra.
A recent field study by some of my colleagues and I undertaking a “Disaster risk science” course from the University of Ghana’s Geography and Resource Development department uncovered several hazards in the community that could turn into full-blown disasters if not addressed.
The community faces risks like choked gutters causing floods, closely packed wooden houses that could fuel massive fires, open waste dumps breeding diseases, and unsafe waste burning near electrical poles.
These are ticking time bombs.
The hazards identified are not just minor issues but potential catalysts for major catastrophes.
Choked gutters and poor drainage systems can lead to flooding, contaminating water sources and exposing residents to waterborne diseases.
The prevalence of wooden structures in close proximity increases the risk of rapid fire spread, putting lives and properties at risk.
Open refuse dumps and dirty gutters near residential areas are breeding grounds for pests and diseases like cholera and malaria.
The practice of burning waste near electrical poles and transformers also poses a significant fire hazard and possible electrical explosions.
The root causes of these hazards are poor urban planning, weak law enforcement, and economic struggles forcing people into unsafe living conditions.
Mempeasem’s growth has outpaced infrastructure development, leading to haphazard settlements and inadequate waste management.
Weak enforcement of building codes and sanitation laws has allowed these unsafe conditions to persist. Many residents, struggling to afford safer alternatives, are unknowingly increasing their vulnerability to disasters.
To mitigate these risks, authorities must act urgently. Building codes and waste management laws should be enforced strictly. The Municipal Assembly should collaborate with NGOs to educate residents on proper waste disposal and disaster prevention.
Drainage and sanitation infrastructure need improvement to prevent flooding and disease outbreaks.
Food vendors and bakers should be relocated from high-risk areas to designated zones with proper facilities. Community education on disaster risks is also crucial to foster a culture of prevention.
Let’s prevent a disaster in Mempeasem. The authorities, residents, and stakeholders must work together to address these hazards. The time to act is now – let’s ensure Mempeasem doesn’t become Accra’s next disaster hotspot.
Theresa Dzifa Tsetse
University of Ghana
Members of the Times Ladies Association (TLA), a women’s wing of the New Times Corporation (NTC) gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) last Monday, March 9, 2026, a day after the global event.
The purpose of the event, which was attended by management and a few employees of the corporation, was to honour women’s achievements and inspire them to succeed in their roles in society.
International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8, to celebrate women’s economic, political and social achievements, educate and raise awareness about women’s equality.
This year’s celebration was on the theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” with a global campaign theme “Give to Gain,” a call to deeper service to ourselves and humanity.
Indeed the day is worth celebrating because women are unique, invaluable, strong, brilliant, powerful and resilient. As such they deserve respect, appreciation, kindness and love for the immense role they play in their families, workplaces, communities and the nation as a whole.
The President of the Association called on members to empower themselves academically and take advantage of opportunities to improve their lives and careers.
She acknowledged that over the years members of the Times Ladies Association have worked and continue to work so hard for the progress of New Times Corporation (NTC) despite the challenges they faced.
The Spectator urges the ladies to heed to the president’s advice to maintain healthy lifestyles, go for regular medical check-ups, exercise regularly, and have enough rest and support one another as this will help contribute meaningfully to their wellbeing and others.
In the words of the President: “As ladies we have every right to protect our dignity and empower ourselves to advance in life be it academically, politically, socially or economically.”
The call on women to empower themselves is laudable as it will go a long way to push the agenda of gender equality in every sphere of their lives.
The Spectator urges women to take a cue from the global campaign theme, “Give to Gain” to exhibit the qualities of a true woman; Be hardworking, confident, resilient, responsible, optimistic, patient, compassionate, generous, and be dedicated to your roles at home and at the workplace.”
We believe that to achieve gender equality women must be each other’s keeper and change the slogan, “women are their own enemies.” Whatever roles women play they must be united and contribute their quota to national development.
The Spectator wishes all women a Happy International Women’s Day.
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