Intensify education on digital finance for job creation — KeyToMarkets Country Rep
The government has been asked to expedite actions on the development of the country’s digital financial industry with a special focus on an intensified nationwide education to help citizens understand digital finance, forex trading and crypto currency.
The country representative of KeyToMarkets International, Gifty Annor-Sika Asantewah, who made this known, explained that a well-regulated digital finance industry supported by informed citizens could help reduce youth unemployment and create opportunities for wealth creation.
“This industry when regulated well have the potential to reduce youth unemployment and enable many Ghanaians to grow their wealth,” Ms Asantewah said in an interview at a digital financial training programme held in the Oti Region.
The training
The training benefited over 2,500 students from the Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School (KASEC).
This initiative seeks to equip them with pertinent skills for enhancing their livelihoods, encourage productive engagement online, mitigate cybercrime, and complement the government's strategies for reducing unemployment.
The training programme, a collaborative effort between KeyToMarkets International and Women in Forex Ghana (WFG), is designed to impart digital financial literacy and skills.
The Women in Forex Ghana donated GH¢5,000 to support the school’s day-to-day activities.
Ms Asantewah who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Women in Forex Ghana, xplained that industry partners, including her organization, are ready to support the drive to develop the digital finance sector.
She said her company was already actively providing training to Ghanaians in various parts of the country.
“Beyond the training we have organized here today; in April this year we offered similar training to benefit about 3,500 students from the Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School,” he said.
Investing
She said instilling the importance of saving and investing in students from a tender age could have a profound impact on their financial literacy, enabling them to make informed decisions that shape their economic futures and foster long-term financial independence.
According to her, given the current climate of economic uncertainty and global challenges such as unemployment and pandemics, it's imperative to equip young people with financial knowledge and skills early on, empowering them to navigate complex financial landscapes and make smart, informed decisions that positively impact their lives.
She added that the digital finance training programme was multifaceted, designed not only to equip young people with the skills necessary for enhanced economic opportunities and improved livelihoods but also to foster responsible online behavior, mitigate the risks associated with cybercrime, and contribute to the government's initiatives aimed at reducing unemployment rates among the youth.
Employability
The assistant head master of the school, Francis Bodzona Komla, expressed his gratitude to the organisers of the digital finance training, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance students' employability by providing them with critical skills that are highly valued in today's competitive job market, thereby bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical application.
He said the aim was to provide students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for excellence in every aspect of life, and financial literacy was an indispensable component of this holistic approach, as it equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their finances effectively, make informed financial decisions, and achieve economic stability.
“By introducing financial literacy training at an early stage, students gain a competitive advantage in understanding and navigating the complexities of the capital market, which in turn empowers them to explore career opportunities and financial ventures, such as forex trading, with confidence and a deep understanding of the underlying financial principles,” he added.