Editorial
Creation of youth employment in wake of COVID-19: Laudable initiative
In the wake of COVID-19 where many businesses in the country have collapsed leading to loss of jobs, it is refreshing to know that there is still hope for the Ghanaian youth, especially women.
An initiative by the government to create employment and income generating opportunities for 39,000 young people by 2022 is laudable as reports say that the COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on businesses.
This initiative, by the National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation’s Young Africa Works Project, a Canadian non-profit organisation was launched recently in Accra by the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo to address the issue of unemployment in the country.
It is hoped that the three-year project, dubbed, “Creating Dignified and Sustainable Work for Ghana’s Young People”, which is aligned with the government’s Ghana Beyond Aid agenda would help improve entrepreneurship, provide jobs for young people and also boost businesses in the country to improve the economy.
With a growing population, unemployment has been a great concern in the country. In a recent survey by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in partnership with the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) and World Bank with technical support from the Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA)), it was revealed that about 115,000 businesses in the country had either permanently or temporarily closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has also affected the world.
The survey stated that more than 45,000 workers lost their jobs during the partial lockdown and those who were hit most were from the accommodation and food sectors. It is obvious that without any interventions the economy will suffer as about 770,000 workers of businesses had their wages reduced with 30,000 of businesses closed down permanently and 85,000 yet to determine what to do.
The intervention, therefore, would offer hope to the Ghanaian graduate youth, especially women and school dropouts nationwide between the ages of 18 and 35.
The agricultural sector is an area which is very lucrative and it is worth noting that the project targets the agri/agro-business, health, manufacturing, transport and education sectors among others under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Programme (YEEP).
With youth unemployment, the country’s security is threatened. The Spectator urges the youth not to allow this opportunity to pass by but to log onto the website, HYPERLINK “https://nbssi.gh/youngafricaworks”https://nbssi.gh/youngafricaworksas more women would be trained in the coming months and provided with start-up kits and other equipment to start their own businesses.
As it was noted, the project had three components, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE), Apprentice to Entrepreneurship (A2E) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Business Acceleration which would help the youth (who form 57 percent of Ghana’s population), to unearth their talents, create jobs for them to live fulfilling lives and thereby grow the economy.
As these efforts progresses, we remind the youth to make good use of social media platforms to market their products globally, as in this era of COVID-19 there is the need for entrepreneurs to explore innovative ways to reach out to customers.
We commend the government for giving hope to the youth and further urge it to introduce more interventions to cushion Ghanaians.
The private sector, international agencies and well-meaning individuals should also intervene to help create more job opportunities for the youth, women, the less privileged and People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) to rid the streets of beggars.
The creation of youth employment in the wake of COVID-19 is a laudable initiative.
Dear Editor,
I wish to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the deplorable state of the road from McCarthy Hill Junction to Mallam Junction, where the deteriorating road surface is contributing to heavy traffic congestion and making commuting increasingly difficult for motorists.
The affected stretch is an important section of the Accra–Kasoa Highway, used daily by thousands of commuters, commercial drivers, private motorists and other road users travelling between Kasoa and Accra. However, the poor condition of portions of the road forces drivers to reduce their speed significantly, creating long queues, particularly during peak hours.
The situation is frustrating for commuters who already spend considerable time travelling between their homes and workplaces. Commercial drivers also lose valuable working hours, while passengers experience unnecessary delays that affect their daily schedules.
What should ordinarily be a relatively smooth journey often becomes a prolonged struggle as vehicles approach damaged sections of the road. The resulting slow movement disrupts traffic flow and contributes to congestion along an already busy corridor.
The situation also raises concerns about road safety. Drivers attempting to avoid potholes and other damaged portions may make sudden manoeuvres, potentially increasing the risk of collisions. Continued use of the affected sections could also lead to damage to vehicle tyres, suspension systems and other components, imposing additional costs on motorists.
While traffic congestion along the Accra–Kasoa corridor may have several causes, the condition of the road between McCarthy Hill Junction and Mallam Junction is an issue that requires urgent attention.
I therefore appeal to the Department of Urban Roads, the Ministry of Roads and Highways and other relevant authorities to inspect the affected stretch and undertake the necessary repairs without further delay.
Improving the road surface would help vehicles move more smoothly, reduce avoidable congestion and improve the safety and convenience of commuters.
The authorities must act promptly to prevent the situation from worsening and provide relief to the thousands of road users who depend on this route every day.
Yours faithfully,
Concerned Citizen
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A critical viewpoint on the function of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in guaranteeing child safety and upholding discipline in Ghanaian schools is highlighted in the statement made by Dr. Freda Prempeh, the former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
According to the supporters of this viewpoint active PTA participation bridges the gap between parents and school administrations and acts as a crucial oversight mechanism.
They strongly believe that parents may better monitor school environments, support guidance and counselling, and hold staff members accountable to the Ghana Education Service (GES) code of conduct when they are involved in the basic and second-cycle school activities.
When school administration functions without external supervision, sexual abuse, exploitation, and indiscipline may result. This transparency is thought to be a crucial deterrent.
However, some educational experts point out that although strong PTAs are helpful, more than just parental supervision is needed to prevent deeply rooted problems like sexual misconduct and moral degeneration.
This viewpoint emphasises that the main instruments required to punish perpetrators and discourage future abuse are institutional enforcement, thorough investigations, and strong legal prosecution by state authorities rather than only school-level committees.
Furthermore, detractors frequently point out that if educational rules do not clearly specify the boundaries of oversight, an excessive reliance on PTAs may cause conflict with school administration.
A strong judicial and administrative proceedings shield victims from ongoing pain and intimidation, discourage potential offenders, and stop wrongdoing from becoming the norm.
In order to maintain high enrollment and completion rates among female students in basic and senior high schools, there should be strict implementation of the GES code of conduct to reassure families that schools are safe places.
Although legal analysts and administrative specialists note that speed is crucial, it must be carefully balanced with thoroughness and due process because hurried investigations might result in procedural mistakes that could lead to unfair sanctions.
Therefore, a comprehensive solution necessitates proactive measures like mandatory background checks and professional ethics training for educators.
The Spectator stresses the need to end sexual exploitation in schools while highlighting the continuous debate over the most effective ways for institutions to provide both prompt justice and legally sound results.
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