Member of the New Patriotic Party communications team Dr. Samuel Akonga says Ghana’s rising youth unemployment has evolved from an economic concern into a national security issue.
Speaking on Dreamz FM’s “Breakfast Today” program, Dr. Akonga blamed successive governments and weak educational policies for the growing unemployment crisis among young people.
“Youth unemployment is no longer an economic issue,” he said. “It has transgressed from that to a national security issue.”
According to him, Ghana’s education system continues to produce graduates whose skills do not match the demands of the job market.
“The curriculum has been tailored in a way that there is a mismatch between what students learn in the universities and what the job market requires,” he said.
Dr. Akonga criticized what he described as an overreliance on theoretical education at the expense of technical and practical training.
He urged the Ministry of Education, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission and industry players to collaborate in redesigning academic programs to focus on innovation, creativity and skills development.
The NPP communicator also called for greater investment in technical universities and science-based education, including artificial intelligence, coding and robotics.
“If we want this country to evolve, government must make a deliberate policy towards ensuring that they sponsor technical universities,” he said.
Dr. Akonga further argued that many university programs have “outlived their usefulness,” leading graduates into unemployment after years of study.
He warned that unemployed graduates eventually become burdens on families and society, adding that many parents feel disappointed after investing heavily in their children’s education.
The political communicator said Ghana must rethink its educational priorities if it hopes to reduce unemployment and prepare young people for emerging global opportunities.
