The deaths of six young people with numerous others injured in a stampede during a military recruitment event in Ghana’s capital, highlights the country’s severe youth unemployment crisis, a youth parliament has said.
The Upper West Regional Youth Parliament expressed deep regret over the tragedy at the recent recruitment grounds in Accra, where desperate job seekers crowded the venue seeking military positions.
“The increasing number of applicants and the resulting overcrowding at recruitment events are stark indicators of the profound lack of job opportunities for our youth,” said James Baba Anabiga, speaker of the Upper West Regional Youth Parliament, in a statement.
The incident underscores Ghana’s mounting unemployment challenge, particularly among young people. With a substantial portion of the population under age 35, thousands of youth are struggling to find work, the statement said.
“The high demand for military positions highlight the length at which our youth will go to find employment,” Anabiga said. “They are willing to risk their safety in pursuit of a chance to contribute to their nation and to secure their livelihoods.”
The youth parliament called on the government to take immediate action to address the crisis. The Youth Parliament urged expedited implementation of a 24-hour economy initiative and other measures to reduce youth unemployment, which they described as “fast becoming a national security threat.”
The organization also called on security services to implement measures to prevent similar incidents at future recruitment events.
“We must not allow this tragedy to be forgotten; it should serve as a catalyst for change,” the statement said.
The youth parliament extended condolences to victims’ families and said they continue to pray for the swift recovery of those injured.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
