Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has called for a national rethink of Ghana’s education priorities, arguing that the country’s focus on humanities over technical and science-based learning is worsening unemployment among young people.
Presenting the first-ever State of the Youth Address on Wednesday, November 5, Mr. Opare Addo cited data showing a steady rise in secondary and tertiary education completion but a sharp fall in technical and vocational training.
According to him, “In 2015, 70 percent of young Ghanaians in secondary school or higher education were in humanities and social sciences, with only 23 per cent in STEM fields. Once again, where the focus is is wrong. Because it is in STEM education that there are better and more opportunities than the humanities.”.
He argued that the decline in TVET participation — from 2.5 percent in 2015 to 1 percent in 2024 — and the low rate of apprenticeships among youth indicate that “where we can create real jobs is rather declining.”
“We all know it is within that sector that you can easily find employment,” he emphasized.
Mr. Opare Addo said linking education to industry, expanding technical skills training, and promoting apprenticeships will be key to building a resilient 24-hour economy and ensuring that “no young Ghanaian is left behind.”
