Stop the youth empowerment rhetoric, invest in the youth

The CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE), Mr. Sherif Ghali, has called on the government and other stakeholders to stop the youth empowerment rhetoric and invest in the youth to create more jobs and opportunities for them.

Mr. Sherif Ghali made this statement at the 4th Annual National Young Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo, and Awards held at Volta Serene Hotel, Ho on 15 December 2023. The summit brought together over 250 young entrepreneurs from across the country to showcase their innovations, network, and learn from industry experts.

According to Mr. Sherif Ghali, the youth are the driving force of Ghana’s economy and development, but they face many challenges such as unemployment, underemployment, lack of access to credit, skills mismatch, and unfavorable business environment.

He said that the government’s youth employment and entrepreneurship programs have not been effective enough to address the youth unemployment challenge.

He urged the government to review and reform these programs to make them more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable. He also appealed to the government to implement the Ghana Startup and Innovation Bill, which will provide an incentive framework for startups and young entrepreneurs.

Mr. Sherif Ghali also called on the private sector, civil society, and development partners to collaborate with the GCYE and other youth associations to support and mentor young entrepreneurs. He said that the GCYE has been providing various services to its members, such as advocacy, capacity building, funding, research, and trade facilitation.

He commended the young entrepreneurs who participated in the summit, expo, and awards for their creativity, resilience, and impact. He encouraged them to continue to pursue their dreams and contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.

He also congratulated the winners of the awards, which recognized the best young entrepreneurs in various sectors such as agribusiness, technology, tourism, sports, and social enterprise.