Stop stealing; use the money to support unemployed youth – Norman tells politicians

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr Ishmael Norman has asked unemployed youth in Ghana not to throw up their hands.

He urged the youth to continue having hope that things would change for the better.

Dr Norman was reacting to the report that 1.8 million persons in Ghana, from 15 to 24 years, remain unemployed.

This is captured in the quarterly food insecurity, multidimensional poverty, and labour statistics report for the first and second quarters released on September 1, 2022 by the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra.

Dr Norman while speaking on the News 360 on TV3 Thursday September 1 said “The youth shouldn’t lose hope, they should continue to be hopeful that things would change.”

He further told politicians especially the government that “They should stop stealing so that that they can develop businesses.

“Now if you have a business idea, whether old or young, going to bank to borrow money is a daunting task.”

The 1.8 million persons from 15 to 24 years who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) represents 28.8 percent of the youth population.

Government statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, noted the survey among other things looked at the characteristics of these youth and hoped will influence policy.

“Savannah Region has the highest percent of triple burdened persons representing 8.2 percent which is more than twice the national average of 3.2 percent”, Professor Annim noted.

About 390,000 persons 15 years and older unemployed in quarter 1 remained unemployed in quarter 2 of 2022.