Mastercard Foundation, AGRA Ghana pledge support for youth employment in Ghana

On the occasion of the International Youth Day 2024, Mastercard Foundation and AGRA Ghana have reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating dialogue with Ghanaian youth and key stakeholders to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment.

Speaking at a National Youth Conference in Accra, AGRA Ghana Country Director, Dr. Betty Annan, emphasized the importance of engaging with the youth to understand their needs and priorities better.

“The objective is to facilitate a dialogue with the youth and key stakeholders, supporting youth employment for a better understanding of their needs and priorities,” Dr. Annan stated. She also highlighted the significance of creating awareness around the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture program, which AGRA has partnered with Mastercard Foundation to implement in several African countries, including Ghana.

Despite agriculture’s potential for establishing sustainable enterprises that support decent livelihoods, Dr. Annan pointed out that youth involvement in the sector remains low. This lack of engagement is often due to negative perceptions about agribusiness, limited access to land, finance, and other resources, and insufficient opportunities for skills development and technological innovation.

A key component of the transformation journey in Ghana, Dr. Annan noted, is fostering meaningful dialogue between the youth, policymakers, the private sector, and other stakeholders. Such discussions are crucial to catalyzing the creation of dignified and fulfilling jobs for the unemployed youth.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr. Pius Enam Hadzide, also addressed the conference, reassuring the public that the Ghanaian government is actively working to equip the nation’s youth with employable skills. Mr. Hadzide highlighted several government interventions aimed at addressing youth unemployment, including providing incentives to the private sector to encourage business expansion and job creation. He also noted the revitalization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure that young people acquire competitive skills for the job market.

Youth enterprise creation, Mr. Hadzide emphasized, is a priority for the government, with initiatives such as the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), and NYA programs like “Planting for Food and Jobs 2.0” and “Youth in Agriculture” playing crucial roles. These efforts are further supported by partnerships with civil society organizations, development partners, and bilateral collaborations, all coordinated through the establishment of a Youth Sector Working Group.

Despite these efforts, Mr. Hadzide acknowledged the enormity of the challenge, stating, “The problem of youth employment and employability is so huge that it is unlikely to be resolved within a single term of administration. It requires sustained efforts over time to achieve lasting solutions.”

Madam Rica Rwigamba, the Ghana Country Director for Mastercard Foundation, also shared the Foundation’s ambitious goal of enabling 3 million young people in Ghana to secure dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. She emphasized the Foundation’s particular focus on young women, aiming for 70% of the three million young people to be women.

“Our strategy is inclusive,” Madam Rwigamba said, “We have a 5% focus on young people living with disabilities.” She stressed the importance of partnering with visionary institutions like AGRA and working closely with the government to align with national policies such as the Agriculture Investment Plan.

Madam Rwigamba also highlighted the Foundation’s focus on agriculture, which employs about 40% of the population in Ghana, and the role of skilling and technology in creating opportunities for young people. “We work with TVET and other educational institutions in Ghana to ensure that our education system is adaptable to the needs of the private sector,” she added.

As the event concluded, Madam Rwigamba encouraged the youth to take ownership of their future, saying, “We have to dream big, take action, and take ownership of our own history.” She reiterated that for Mastercard Foundation, AGRA, and their partners, every day is Youth Day, and they are committed to continuously engaging with the youth to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.