The National Youth Development Advisor for SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, Godknows Kporha, is urging young people to develop employable skills and take charge of their career paths as Ghana’s job market becomes increasingly competitive.

Speaking to Joy News at the 2025 SOS Youth Empowerment Boot Camp, Mr Kporha said the organisation is focused on preparing young people before they enter tertiary institutions so they do not join the growing numbers of unemployed graduates.

“We have a vision that young people passing through SOS will not be added to the unemployment figures,” he said.

He explained that Ghana’s unemployment situation demands early career planning, noting that many young people choose courses without understanding their strengths or the realities of the labour market. The annual boot camp, he said, equips participants with life skills, entrepreneurship training, career guidance, and employability skills to give them a strong start.

This year, 66 young people from six regions are being trained to develop five-year career plans and gain competencies in leadership, communication, teamwork, CV writing, and business fundamentals. Mr Kporha said the hands-on model helps participants enter university “with clarity, purpose, and the skills required to stand out.”

He stressed that the government alone cannot resolve unemployment, highlighting the growing importance of entrepreneurship for young people who want to influence their communities.

“Let’s give them the opportunity, build their capacity, give them the tools, the insight… and I bet you they will become change makers and they will change the fortunes of our continent,” he said.

Beneficiaries say the programme is already shaping their future plans. Rebecca Bodzie, who hopes to become a clinical psychologist, said the training deepened her self-awareness and exposed her to modern mental health career requirements. “I realised I made the right decision coming here because I gained a lot of self-awareness,” she noted.

Another participant, Emmanuel Gyan, said he now sees wider opportunities in land technology and real estate beyond his initial interest in Land Surveying. He advised his peers to choose careers that not only match their strengths but also serve society.

Alternative Care Coordinator for SOS Children’s Villages in Kumasi, Kofi Aduako, called on NGOs, philanthropists and corporate bodies to support the organisation to expand its programmes to reach more young people outside SOS facilities.

“We don’t want it to be only SOS participants. We want to expand it to our communities and districts so children who have completed JHS and SHS can benefit,” he said.

SOS Children’s Villages Ghana currently relies heavily on sponsorship, and Mr Aduako encouraged wider support to deepen their impact on youth empowerment across the country.