Opinion: Youth deserve a fair shot at the first job

Ghana's youth are not short on talent; they are short on credible pathways. Too many "empowerment" programmes recycle workshop certificates without connecting graduates to paid work.

The Nobles proposes Youth Opportunity Centres in every district — pairing apprenticeships with firms that agree to living wages and safety audits before receiving subsidies. Startup grants would be awarded by open lottery, with winners and amounts published monthly to kill favouritism.

The first job is not a favour from a politician; it is infrastructure, like a road or a clinic. Treat it that way, and the demographic dividend becomes real.