As youth unemployment rises, it’s time for Ghana to invest in practical, DIY and technical skills training, giving young people jobs they can make, not just jobs they can seek.
In Ghana today, youth unemployment sits stubbornly around 14.7% (GSS, 2023). Each year, tens of thousands graduate from SHS, universities and colleges, many with theoretical knowledge but few practical skills to turn into real work. Meanwhile, demand is rising for electricians, tilers, solar technicians, machine operators, fashion designers, furniture makers, mobile phone repairers, and agro-processors — roles that require skill with the hand as much as the mind.
From DIY Skills to Real Vocations
Ghana has enormous potential to create jobs by teaching youth to do, not just to read and recite. Imagine a nationwide youth skills programme that trains people to:
Operate and fix small farm and light industrial machinery; Install and maintain solar systems; Repair and assemble mobile phones and gadgets; Make and brand leather products, bags, and shoes; Run small agro-processing setups: shea butter, fruit juice, cassava chips, spices; Design and produce fashion, crafts and interior décor; Provide local digital services: social media marketing, content creation, data entry
These are all DIY or light industry vocations that require limited capital, can be self-employed or cooperative-based, and are highly marketable both locally and for export.
Global models that train youth to do, not just know, include:
Germany’s Dual Vocational System
Combines classroom learning with on-the-job apprenticeships. Over 50% of youth opt for this, leading to the lowest youth unemployment rates in Europe (under 6%, Eurostat, 2023).
China’s Technical Schools & Township Enterprises
Millions of rural youth trained to repair machinery, assemble electronics, and run small factories. These practical skills powered China’s light manufacturing boom.
India’s Skill India Mission (2015– )
Targets over 400 million people with short courses in plumbing, mobile repair, solar installation, cooking, tailoring and digital skills. Over 10 million have been trained so far (Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, 2023).
Rwanda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
Focuses on agriculture machinery, construction, hospitality and ICT. In 2021, about 61% of TVET graduates were self-employed or employed within 6 months (Rwanda TVET Board, 2022).
These programmes share three principles. They are practical, skills-based, short to medium courses; backed by strong private sector and industry partnerships; and recognize certification that boosts employability.
Why Ghana Needs this Shift
Ghana’s education system remains heavily theory-focused. Graduates often leave with knowledge that isn’t matched to market demand. Meanwhile, demand for tradespeople, technicians and artisans remains unmet, many youth drift toward idleness, drugs and alcohol without meaningful work, and import dependence stays high because few produce, repair or manufacture locally.
How Government can Act
A practical skills strategy could include :
Establishing regional youth maker hubs: small centres with tools, trainers and market access support; Partnering with China, India, Germany, South Korea to train master trainers and build curriculum; Providing start-up tool kits or micro-loans for graduates to launch businesses; Linking training with value chains: furniture to real estate, solar installers to mini-grids, agro-processors to supermarkets; and, Using TVET scholarships and apprenticeship tax incentives to scale participation.
For the benefit of our youth who are desirous of finding a DIY which pays, the following are suggested:
Aluminum and glass fabrication – doors, windows, shop fronts Assembly and repair of small inverters and solar lanterns Basic electronics repair – TVs, radios, fans, small appliances Beadwork and jewelry design – weddings, festivals, diaspora market Carpentry and furniture making – custom furniture, kitchen cabinets Cassava and yam flour, gari, industrial starch Digital marketing and e-commerce setup – helping traders sell online Dried food and spice processing – ginger, pepper, herbs Fruit juice and smoothie production – urban demand rising Graphic design and basic video editing – ads, events, churches Honey production and packaging – niche but growing market Making compost and organic fertilizer for urban gardens Mobile phone and tablet repair – very high turnover, low startup cost Plastic waste recycling into pavement blocks or tiles POP (Plaster of Paris) ceiling design & interior decoration Poultry and egg production – still profitable when scaled efficiently Printing and embroidery – branding for churches, schools, SMEs Shea butter processing and packaging – domestic and export Shoe and bag making (leather or fabric) – small workshops, export potential Small-scale fish farming (catfish, tilapia) Snail farming – high-value protein for local market Social media management and content creation for SMEs Solar panel installation and maintenance – homes, SMEs, farms, cold stores Tailoring and dressmaking – school uniforms, made-to-measure clothes Tiling, plumbing and painting – housing boom in cities and towns Up cycling old clothes into bags, rugs, fashion items Web design using templates – for local businesses and NGOs
Most of these require limited capital, can start small, and be scaled cooperatively or individually.
Many can be taught in 3–12 month practical training courses, not requiring a full degree.
Youth don’t just need more degrees; they need tools, machines and practical know-how to create jobs for themselves and others. By shifting focus from purely theoretical education to DIY and hands-on vocations, Ghana can transform a generation of jobseekers into job creators, and give purpose, dignity and hope to thousands of young people.
FUSEINI ABDULAI BRAIMAH
+233208282575 / +233550558008
[email protected]
