By Rachel Quartey
Minority Leader and Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on Ghanaian graduates to embrace entrepreneurship and innovation rather than relying solely on white-collar employment.
Addressing students at the “Beyond the Degree Conference 2026” at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Mr. Afenyo-Markin highlighted the limitations of public sector jobs and the need for young people to broaden their career expectations.
Don’t Rely on White-Collar Jobs
“Too often, many young people approach employment with a narrow expectation that success must come only through white-collar jobs. Some come to my office asking exclusively for employment at the Bank of Ghana, COCOBOD, GRA, VRA, among others,” he said.
He urged graduates to explore alternative pathways such as entrepreneurship, technical skills development, digital innovation, agriculture, manufacturing, and the creative economy.
“The future of Ghana cannot be built by job seekers alone. It must also be built by job creators,” he stated, emphasizing that graduates who take the initiative to create opportunities will play a key role in national development.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also encouraged young people to study global examples of innovation and enterprise. Citing leaders such as Bill Gates, Jack Ma, and Steve Jobs, he said their success demonstrates that vision, creativity, and resilience can be as important as formal academic qualifications.
“Opportunities will not be easily handed to you. They must be created, earned, and responsibly managed,” he told the students, encouraging them to view their degrees as the starting point of a broader journey of leadership and civic responsibility.
Government Sector Is Choked
On the state of public sector employment, Mr. Afenyo-Markin warned that Ghana’s government institutions are unable to absorb the growing number of graduates entering the job market each year.
“The Government sector is choked. These institutions cannot absorb the thousands of graduates entering the job market every year,” he said, highlighting the mismatch between graduate expectations and available opportunities in state institutions.
He stressed that overreliance on government jobs is unsustainable for both individual career growth and the country’s economic development. Instead, he encouraged graduates to identify unmet needs in society and find innovative solutions that can generate jobs not only for themselves but also for others.
By combining entrepreneurship, innovation, and responsible management of resources, the Minority Leader said young people can drive sustainable growth and contribute meaningfully to national progress.
“Ghana needs more innovators and job creators. Graduates should not only aim to secure employment but also to build opportunities that expand the job market for others,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin concluded.
