Industry players from the private and public sectors will converge in Accra on September 19 to offer over 5,000 jobs to Ghanaian job seekers and entrepreneurs. About 100 employers are to participate in the maiden edition.
The event, an initiative of the Ghana Report, a news organisation, is designed to help mitigate the unemployment challenges in the country by connecting job seekers with employers and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with the needed tools, knowledge, and networks to succeed.
Chief Executive of the Ghana Report, Ms Rashida Saani, said unemployment remained a major challenge that needed to be addressed due to the dire implications on the country.
She said that aside from reporting on the issue, the media organization saw it prudent to organize such an event as part of its corporate social responsibility to implement initiatives to address the challenge.
She assured participants of a fair and transparent process as job seekers and entrepreneurs would be assessed on their qualifications, skills, and value proposition. By eliminating biases and ensuring a merit-based selection process, it aims to level the playing field and ensure that every capable Ghanaian has an equal chance of finding meaningful employment regardless of background or connections.
Director of Corporate Affairs, Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Mr. Kwasi Afriyie, said the state agency decided to be a partner of the event due to the threat youth employment posed to the security of the country. He said the introduction of skills acquisition as part of the event activities was in line with the policy direction of the YEA to focus on skill development and empowerment.
He said unemployment is a difficult task for everybody, and it is always a burden for the governments of Africa, especially with the mammoth numbers of those without jobs.
However, it is important for the country to address structural and fundamental issues affecting the youth of the country to avert any situation of insecurity that could be politically motivated.
