Ghana's biggest issue is jobs for young people - Akufo-Addo (VIDEO)

Kweku Zurek Jan - 24 - 2020 , 14:54 2 minutes read

President Akufo-Addo says the biggest issue for Ghana and the continent of Africa is finding work for the young people.

In an interview with CGTN on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Akufo-Addo said Africa is the youngest continent in the world in terms of its population and as a result, public sector jobs cannot employ all young people.

He said his administration has therefore placed emphasis on encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs so that they can work for themselves and create jobs for others.

CGTN Senior Correspondent @tianwei caught up with @NAkufoAddo, president of the Republic of Ghana, to get his take on how to navigate emerging economies through all those factors https://t.co/ZypJULDJBi #Davos2020 #wef20 pic.twitter.com/psQxDILd5N
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) January 24, 2020

"The biggest issue for our country and indeed for the continent of Africa is finding work for our young people," President Akufo-Addo said.

"As you know, Africa is the youngest continent in the world in terms of its population. So the solution cannot just be public sector work. It has to be private sector development, and that means entrepreneurship. They are putting a lot of emphasis on encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs so that they can work for themselves and create jobs for others".

He also recalled the circumstances which led to Chinese billionaire Jack Ma visiting Ghana last year for the Africa Netpreneur Summit.

"I met him in China whenever I was in Beijing, and we agreed that he would come to Ghana to help us develop ideas for entrepreneurship. And true enough, he lived up to his word. He came in November, we had the Africa Netpreneur Summit, which he put together – very successful and encouraging – especially people having access to a man like that who has done so much to promote all kinds of industries, new businesses in the world. If he could do it, it is possible that other people can do it," he said.