It is with a sense of call to duty that we, the members of Unemployed Graduates Association of Ghana (UGAG) issue this press statement to the Government and the good people of Ghana as a follow up to our earlier call for Jobs to be created. It would be recalled that on Thursday, April 14th 2011, H.E. President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills assured all unemployed graduates that he is going to create jobs in the country. We welcome this as a respite but we still want to remind the President and the people of Ghana that the over half a million unemployed graduates in Ghana still do not have jobs to do. As a matter of fact we are keenly waiting for the jobs that are to be created for the benefit of UGAG members and the youth of Ghana at large.

It is really shocking that our lives have become bleak after spending 3 to 4 years at the various tertiary institutions. The truth is that, our members always walk from one office to another all in search of unavailable jobs on daily basis. Our shoes are now deformed as a result of the undue walking; our two shirts have also washed out. We can no longer endure the pressure from our families who after spending on our education are still not getting any return from us, hence their decision not to continue spending on us. We are not doing anything meaningful for this country; our contribution to the society has been zilch. It is depressing that most of our members are now lodging with friends because they can no longer contain family demands.

We wish to add force to the fact that government is the largest employer and it needs to act aptly by embarking on a massive job creation through the creation of enabling environment or avenues across the country. Until this is done, any air-condition ivory-tower approach will not take us out of the pit. We demand action now!

We are therefore calling on our members to remain calm but focused on our agenda, which is ‘‘to impel government and all stakeholders to create meaningful jobs for the youth especially, the unemployed graduate’’. We are much aware that some politicians are deceitfully trying to lure some of our members for their political advantage. We wish to emphasize here and now that, UGAG is a non-political interest group and our aim is quite clear to all. We shall accept nothing but JOBS and JOBS alone because we are dying!

In the meantime, we would also ensure that all our members develop themselves to the best of their abilities whiles we count on government and all stakeholders to create jobs and the enabling environment for job creation.

Bernard Armah

Press Coordinator

0277-189505

strandedyouth@gmail.com