The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mark Badu Aboagye, has announced a new initiative aimed at establishing Junior Chambers in universities to help students develop entrepreneurial skills and shift from job seekers to job creators.
Speaking at the quarterly Economic Outlook programme on Channel One TV on April 27, under the theme “Taking Stock – Ghana’s Economic Turnaround: What Changed & What Comes Next?”, he explained that the initiative is designed to address rising youth unemployment through training, mentorship, and practical business development support.
According to him, Junior Chambers have already been set up in institutions such as University of Mines and Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and the University of Ghana, with plans to extend the programme to University of Media, Arts and Communication and other tertiary institutions nationwide.
He noted that the programme aims to provide students with mentorship and practical guidance to transform their ideas into viable businesses, stressing that young people often have solutions to national challenges but lack support systems to develop them.
Mr. Badu Aboagye highlighted concerns about unemployment levels, stating that government employment accounts for only about 6% of job opportunities, making private sector expansion essential for job creation.
He further revealed that approximately 1.4 million young people are currently unemployed, while more than 200,000 graduates enter the job market annually.
He urged students to rethink their career expectations and consider entrepreneurship, emphasising that job creation is increasingly necessary as both government and private sector job absorption remain limited.
Source: citinews
