An initiative to equip the youth with career development skills, particularly Senior High School (SHS) and university leavers, for the job market in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region is currently underway.
The programme, code-named “Employment Clinic”, is being organised by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, a Chinese mining concern in the area, in partnership with Ghana Think Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in the social enterprise and youth empowerment space.
There are many unemployed youth in the area where Zijin operates, and the company teamed up with the foundation to prepare them for employment, especially youth in the host mining communities.
Communities
Beneficiaries from New Abirem, the district capital, Old Abirem, Ntronang, Afosu, Adausena, Akyem Amanfrom, Mamanso, Hweakwae and Adjenua were schooled on how to prepare their own Curriculum Vitae (CV).
They were also taken through how to properly present themselves for interviews when seeking employment in both the private and public sectors.
They were also mentored by academics and experienced professionals in various fields such as engineering, nursing and medicine, among others.
Youth unemployment
The Communications and External Relations Manager of the company, Philip Ashon, stated that when Zijin took over from Akyem Mines in April 2024, it realised that unemployment was the major issue facing the youth in the area.
Coach youth
He said because Zijin could not engage all the unemployed youth in the area, the company had decided to coach the youth about opportunities available in other sectors which were equally lucrative.
“There are other opportunities outside mining that the unemployed can explore, so we have to offer the communities’ youth options in agribusiness, entrepreneurship and technology,” Mr Ashon stated.
300 beneficiaries last year
Mr Ashon indicated that last year, more than 300 people, mostly between the ages of 18 and 35, benefited from the programme and were taken through the rudiments of employment, such as CV writing and how to prepare for interviews.
Through such guidance, Mr Ashon indicated, there had been an improvement in the quality of CVs received at his outfit.
He said the youth now knew that there were other areas, such as agriculture, which could engage them apart from looking for employment with the company.
Financially stable
The Director of the Ghana Think Foundation, Ato Appiah, who was highly elated to partner Zijin, said the main purpose of the programme was to make the youth financially stable, which would help improve the conditions of life in the communities and Ghana as a whole.
He indicated that what the foundation was looking for were young people who were passionate, positive, proactive and capable of solving their own problems.
Mr Appiah said the youth must also not be involved in negative traditional practices that did not augur well for their development.
Competent people
The Director of Ghana Think Foundation told the gathering that, apart from these values, his outfit often looked for competent people who would perform creditably when engaged.
Desire for work
The Member of Parliament (MP) for New Abirem, Charles Asuako Owiredu, for his part, asked the youth not to be disappointed when their desire for work eluded them, since there were often various options for them to progress in life.
Failed choice
Using himself as an example, the MP stated that he ventured into other options when his choice failed him and that he was able to get to where he never thought he would be.
He advised the youth to re-align their paths should they encounter any difficulty, adding that life was not easy but with determination and courage, they would succeed.
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