The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Norgence IT Solutions, Albert Naa, has stressed the urgency for both government and community stakeholders to take decisive steps to address the growing youth unemployment crisis in the Upper East Region before it escalates into a larger national and continental issue.
“If the stakeholders—people who can do something about this issue—do not take action, it’s going to jeopardize the future of our kind.”
Speaking on A1 Radio, he highlighted that while the problem is dire, there are clear opportunities that could be harnessed to create jobs for young people—especially in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
According to him, areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), software development, and digital entrepreneurship present vast potential for employment and self-sufficiency. However, he noted a troubling disinterest among many Ghanaian youth in pursuing long-term skills development.
“AI has become one of the areas where people can take advantage of career opportunities, but I have observed a worrying trend among Ghanaian youth. The blame can be shared between the youth themselves and the stakeholders whose responsibility it is to guide us to where we are supposed to go. You see them not actually putting their hands to any specific job.”
Mr. Naa observed that the culture of quick success fueled by social media is contributing significantly to the unemployment problem. Many young people, he said, are being misled by flashy lifestyles portrayed online, leading them to believe that success can be achieved without effort or hard work. As a result, there is a general lack of commitment to vocational or digital skills training that could lead to sustainable careers.
He also underscored the contradiction in priorities among some youth, pointing out that while many claim they cannot afford training programs, they often own high-end smartphones. This, he emphasized, reflects a deeper issue of misplaced values and a need for greater awareness about long-term investment in personal development.
Mr. Naa further raised concerns about the rising trend of youth involvement in cyber fraud and other illegal activities, driven by the glorification of wealth without accountability. He believes that the normalization of unexplained wealth, without questioning its sources, is contributing to moral decay and emboldening criminal behavior among some young people.
“If somebody begins to show up in a flashy car right now, everybody is praising them—‘Oh, you have done well’—but we don’t question where the source of funding is coming from. Because of that, you see a lot of our young people being emboldened to actually go into these fraudulent activities, trying to steal credit cards from old people in Europe and the West and all those things.”
To counter these trends, he suggested that the government could play a key role by sponsoring more positive and productive content on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. He proposed that content promoting hard work, skills development, and entrepreneurship be prioritized in the digital space to inspire youth toward meaningful goals.
Despite the challenges, Mr. Naa remains optimistic, stressing that Ghana’s youthful population is still an asset. He urged the youth not to delay their pursuit of growth and development, warning that responsibilities increase with age, making it harder to build foundational skills later in life.
“The advantage is that we are still young. Don’t wait till you grow, when there are so many responsibilities on you.”
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1MHz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
