Head of Business Unit at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), Franklin Owusu-Karikari has advised graduates from tertiary institutions to desist from chasing after juicy jobs and grab opportunities that are available to them.

According to Mr. Owusu-Karikari, there are numerous job opportunities but most graduates are out searching for jobs that will earn them huge salaries so they get rich within the shortest period, hence the surge in unemployment in the country.

He said graduates should be able to find compelling business ideas, transform them into sustainable profitable businesses, and offer employment opportunities to others as well.

Speaking in an interview with www.ghanaweb.com on the sidelines of a forum organised by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE), Mr. Owusu-Karikari commended the youth who have taken up the challenge to start their own small businesses saying, “Now we have seen that a lot of graduates are really trying to do something on their own which is a good sign and good initiative”.

He said the current government is committed to reducing youth unemployment in the country by supporting start-ups and young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

He explains that the NEIP programme is one of the initiatives government has rolled out to provide fund, training and other technical support to graduates or Ghanaians who have sustainable business ideas.

“I can tell the young people in this country that, graduates who want to do something, if you’re really passionate about what you want to do there are opportunities available for funding that can support start-up businesses. NEIP is one of them and there are other avenues such as international grant organisations working in this country, there are private partners who are also ready to support,” he averred.

Mr. Owusu-Karikari also disclosed that government is working hard to improve agriculture and make it attractive to the youth through the introduction of the Greenhouse Farming Technology.



The Greenhouse Farming Technology if successful will ensure continuous production of crops and vegetables for domestic trade and export.

“We want to cut short import substitution. Shoprite, Game and others are importing vegetables from South Africa and other countries to sell to us meanwhile we can grow this quality, high standard vegetables right here in Ghana. So we’ve taken up this initiative to grow farmers who are entrepreneurs with this technological way of farming,” he said.