Fostering
entrepreneurship in the art and cultural tourism sector is an ideal way to
solve the intense unemployment problems in Africa. Unemployment has been a major
challenge that impinges the socioeconomic development of Ghana and Africa in
general. I believe the problem of unemployment is very crucial for ensuring
sustainable development in Ghana and as such needs an utmost attention. The
high unemployment rate in Ghana threatens the very fiber of our society as
shown by the recent threats and demonstrations by millions of unemployed
graduates.
According to the
Ghana Statistical Services, 2012 report, the unemployment rate in Ghana is 12.9
percent and is expected to rise in the coming years if measures are not put in
place. Also, the report states that, about 60 percent of these unemployed
persons are within the age range of 15 to 25 years, which is very detrimental
to development. The result is that the nation is not producing the maximum
output of goods and services that will improve people’s standard of living. It
affects aggregate demand and forces the youth to involve in criminal
activities, conflicts and violence. The issue is further exacerbated by the
fact that most of the people who are employed work in low income jobs like
petty trading, small family jobs and subsistence farming.
The key barriers
to resolving this challenge includes; the desire of the people, especially the
youth, to work in the public and formal sector, lack of training, skills and
knowledge to take up certain jobs, lack of entrepreneurial skills, education
system, poor employment policies and coordination and lack of resources.
In my opinion, the
best way to alleviate the unemployment problem in Ghana is to develop the
cultural tourism industry. It is capable of providing employment than any other
industry so far as this country is concerned. It is labor intensive, high
income generator and has a multiplier effect. It does not require considerable
knowledge, skills, capital and training as the other sectors. Also Ghana has
all the potential ranging from the traditional way of life, history, art, to
both man-made and natural heritage....Contd
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