The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has urged the youth to embrace skills training and apprenticeship programmes as a sustainable pathway to employment and economic independence. 

Madam Gomashie, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, made the call in her New Year message to constituents, stressing that skills acquisition remains one of the most reliable ways for young people to secure livelihoods amid limited white-collar job opportunities. 

She said the changing nature of the job market requires young people to be innovative, practical, and willing to explore vocational and technical skills rather than relying solely on formal academic qualifications. 

“The truth is that white-collar jobs are scarce. But when you have a skill, you can work anywhere, anytime, and still earn a decent living. There is dignity and opportunity in skilled work,” she said. 

Sharing her personal experience, Madam Gomashie said she once worked as a salaried employee but later ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing her catering business, popularly known as “Mama’s Kitchen,” which provided her with greater flexibility and economic opportunity. 

She cautioned the youth against the temptation of shortcuts to wealth and instead urged them to invest time and effort into learning trades that could make them self-employed and financially independent. 

Madam Gomashie encouraged young people in the municipality to take advantage of existing government youth employment policies and programmes, including vocational training, apprenticeship schemes, and entrepreneurship support initiatives. 

She said as an MP, she had initiated and supported several youth-focused training programmes within Ketu South to equip young people with practical skills in areas such as tailoring, hairdressing, and other artisanal trades. 

The minister expressed concern about what she described as a growing misconception among young people that skills training is only meant for those without formal education. 

“There is a wrong notion that skills training is for people who did not go to school, while graduates must wait for office jobs. That thinking is dangerous. Skills add value to education and expand opportunities,” she noted. 

She advised graduates from tertiary institutions to diversify their options by venturing into areas such as agriculture, agribusiness, and technical skills, pointing out that many Members of Parliament, Ministers, and other prominent personalities combine professional careers with large-scale farming and other enterprises. 

Madam Gomashie reaffirmed her commitment to supporting youth development initiatives in Ketu South and called on parents, traditional leaders, and stakeholders to encourage young people to acquire skills that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to local and national development.