An alumnus from Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) and the Chief Executive Officer of Elite B & C Company Limited, Derrick Akomprah, has challenged university students to move beyond the pursuit of academic certificates, saying degrees alone no longer guarantee employment in today's highly competitive job market.
He said while a university degree would open the door to employment, it was a graduate's attitude, communication skills, problem-solving ability, adaptability and willingness to learn continuously that would determine long-term success at the workplace.
Mr Akomprah made the statement at the 2026 CCTU Career Fair held on the theme: "Creating Careers in the Digital Age: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Employability."
Employers
The two-day career fair brought together employers, industry leaders and career development professionals to equip students with practical employability skills through CV review sessions, mock interviews, exhibitions and interactive career conversations.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of EN. AR Limited, Usman Kweku Etuaful, Mr Akomprah said graduates should intentionally develop competencies that make them valuable beyond their academic qualifications.
"A degree may get you into the interview room, but your attitude, communication skills, ability to solve problems and work with people are what will keep you in the room," he stressed.
Sharing his personal career journey, Mr Akomprah said curiosity, initiative and the willingness to exceed expectations had earned him rapid career progression, including promotion to a supervisory role within months of joining one of the world's largest telecommunications companies in the United States.
He urged students not to wait to be instructed before taking initiative, explaining that employers valued workers who identified problems, proposed solutions and consistently went beyond what was expected of them.
Entrepreneurship
On entrepreneurship, he cautioned students against assuming that owning a business was an easy path to success, describing it as a demanding journey that required resilience, discipline and sacrifice.
He also advised students not to limit their ambitions to travelling abroad in search of better opportunities.
"There are opportunities in Ghana. Build yourself where you are, identify problems people face and create solutions.
Success is not determined by location but by the value you create," he said.
Mr Akomprah further encouraged students to embrace emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), as tools for innovation and career advancement.
"Technology is not your competitor. It is here to support you. Learn how to use AI to solve problems, improve yourself and create opportunities," he advised.
Position
The Managing Director of Sedat Consult Limited, Patricia Abena Kisi, said the realities of today's labour market required graduates to deliberately position themselves with practical skills and professional competencies.
She explained that employers were increasingly looking beyond academic performance to identify graduates who could communicate effectively, adapt quickly, think critically and add value to organisations.
Mrs Kisi urged students to improve both their written and verbal communication skills.
Tool
The Dean of Student Affairs, CCTU, Sophia Ocran, said the career fair was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the workplace by exposing students to industry expectations and practical career development opportunities.
She said activities such as CV reviews, mock interviews, exhibitions and networking sessions would equip students with the confidence and skills needed to transition successfully into employment.
Chairman of the programme and Pro Vice-Chancellor of CCTU, Prof. Emmanuel Kwaw, encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity by engaging resource persons, asking questions and keeping an open mind.
"The conversations you begin today could spark a lifelong passion and shape your future career," he said.
The career fair also featured practical sessions by representatives of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Sedat Consult Limited and other industry partners, who took students through entrepreneurship, regulatory compliance, professional ethics, financial management and workplace expectations
