Gov’t urged to support Erasmus+ and skills programmes to tackle youth employment
The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Emmanuel Reagan Fynn, has urged the government to show greater commitment to initiatives that create expanded opportunities for national service personnel, describing such efforts as vital in tackling Ghana’s rising youth unemployment.
Addressing participants at a workshop on Promoting Erasmus+ Opportunities and Combating Gender-Based Violence among National Service Personnel in Kumasi, Mr Fynn emphasised that programmes of this kind should go beyond sensitisation and deliver tangible benefits for graduates who struggle to secure jobs after completing national service. He described the initiative as commendable and called on the government to actively support and scale up access to similar opportunities, noting that they not only enhance employability but also broaden the outlook and build the long-term capacity of young people.
He further stressed that stronger government involvement would help transform such interventions into lasting solutions rather than isolated projects. Mr Fynn pointed out that many graduates leave tertiary institutions and complete national service only to encounter limited job prospects, a reality that continues to deepen frustration among the youth. According to him, structured access to international exposure, skills development and clear career pathways could significantly improve outcomes. He added that the NSS in the Ashanti Region is exploring ways to expand the workshop to create more employment opportunities for service personnel.
Mr Fynn noted that participation in international programmes such as Erasmus+ can better equip young people for the labour market while contributing to national development. He argued that providing service personnel with global skills and experience positions them to play a meaningful role in Ghana’s economic growth and efforts to reduce unemployment.
Also speaking at the event, a Senior Research Scientist at the CSIR Crops Research Institute and Project Coordinator of the African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF), Dr Hillary Mireku Botey, said the workshop was intended to close the information gap that prevents many service personnel from accessing international scholarships and career advancement opportunities. He explained that the programme focuses on two main areas: access to European scholarships and career pathways through Erasmus+, and education on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. According to him, the initiative seeks to empower young people to safeguard themselves while enhancing their career prospects.
Dr Botey noted that while the government is committed to promoting quality education, such quality should not be limited to in-country opportunities alone. He said forums like this could serve as stepping stones for young people to gain international exposure, experience different cultures and foster inclusivity, while helping to address unemployment.
The European Union–funded workshop aligns with Ghana’s wider policies on education, youth development and skills training. Dr Botey encouraged the government to strengthen bilateral collaboration with European programmes and channel such opportunities through universities and the National Service Scheme.
Participants praised the initiative, describing it as practical and informative. One participant, Eunice Eshun, said the workshop helped her appreciate how skills acquired abroad could be applied to support national development. She noted that limited employment opportunities at home make international exposure valuable, adding that lessons learned elsewhere could be adapted locally for the benefit of others.
Other participants agreed that with stronger government support for programmes such as Erasmus+, Ghana could curb youth unemployment while developing a skilled workforce with global exposure.
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