Accra: Ms Constance Swaniker, the Founder and President of the Design and Technology Institute (DTI), has called on the youth to acquire skills that are in high demand as part of their career development. She emphasized the global need for builders, makers, problem-solvers, and innovators during her speech at the 2025 Job and Opportunities Fair held in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the fair, themed 'The Career Expedition: Pathways, Partnerships, Possibilities - A Mindset Journey towards Self-discovery,' spanned two days. Ms Swaniker highlighted the importance of skills in fields such as welding, digital fabrication, software development, design, agriculture, and electrical installation. She described the theme as a call to action, underscoring the transformative journey from uncertainty to clarity and from learning to application.
Ms Swaniker stated that DTI aims to equip young people to become creators of value, innovators of systems, and industry leaders. She stressed that mindset transformation is crucial for national transformation, pointing out that well-designed interventions require the right mindset to succeed. She also mentioned the need for stakeholders to shape the values, vision, and problem-solving abilities of young people.
She noted that the world of work is changing rapidly, influenced by technological advances, climate change, and demographic shifts, which are redefining employment and leadership. Dr. Abul-Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, echoed this sentiment, stating that the fair's theme aligns with Ghana's mission to transform its youth from jobseekers to explorers of their own destinies.
Dr. Pelpuo highlighted a critical challenge, as reported by the Ghana Statistical Service, that nearly 60 percent of Ghanaian youth face underemployment or precarious informal sector jobs. He announced the NDC government's commitment to creating two million dignified jobs by 2028 under President Dramani Mahama's leadership, describing this pledge as a survival pact for the nation's future and a social contract with its citizens.
