The President and Founder of Afro Arab Group, Alhaji Salamu Amadu on the occasion of International Youth has raised a concern about Ghanaian youth leaving the country to seek better opportunities abroad.
“When we talk about the problems of the country, every young person wants to leave their country for greener pastures elsewhere. Everybody wants to leave,” Ambassador Alhaji Salamu Amadu stated on the Morning Starr with Lantam Papanko on Monday, August 12, 2024.
He highlighted the desperation of youth to escape the challenges in Ghana. “I know how much people spend to get to the US, to get to Canada for survival. It’s a huge sum of money. People selling property, people borrowing money.”
According to the Founder of the Afro-Arab Group, despite efforts to encourage youth to stay and make a difference in Ghana, the lack of hope in the system has become an issue.
“I do my best to talk to them that it’s possible. It can be done. You can make it here. But at the end of the day, we get tired because they don’t have hope in the system.
“If the economy is good, people will stay in their country. When you look at African countries with good economies, they’re (youth) not leaving,” Alhaji Salamu Amadu stated.
He continued: “Ghana is a special country. We have everything here. But the breakthrough, that’s the matter. How you can survive your business here, it’s another thing.”
Rather than blaming those who leave, the leader called on leaders to create an enabling environment, saying, “I don’t blame people leaving, but our leaders must sit up and create an environment for us to enjoy Ghana.”
Addressing the youth against the mindset that the grass is always greener elsewhere, he stated that “For me, I believe I can solve problems here. Everybody has their plan, but we need to develop our country.”
Acknowledging that some individuals return with valuable experiences, Alhaji Salamu Amadu stated”If we don’t take care, we’ll end up without the youth to move this country forward.”
He urged authorities to engage with the youth, stating, “Our leaders must get closer to the youth and let them understand.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Tracy Afia Ahensima Danso