The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Emmanuel Reagan Fynn, has called on the government to take a keen interest in programmes that expand opportunities for national service personnel, describing such interventions as critical to reducing Ghana’s growing youth unemployment challenge.

Speaking at a workshop on Promoting Erasmus+ Opportunities and Combating Gender-Based Violence among National Service Personnel in Kumasi, Mr Reagan Fynn stressed that initiatives of this nature must move beyond awareness creation and deliver practical outcomes for young graduates struggling to find jobs after national service.

“So it’s a good initiative, and I urge the government to also take it up and take an interest in such access so that it will also help.

Aside from getting employment, it also broadens the young people and builds their capacity going forward,” he said. He added that stronger government involvement would help turn such programmes into sustainable solutions rather than one-off interventions.

Mr Reagan Fynn noted that many graduates complete tertiary education and national service only to face limited employment opportunities, a situation that continues to fuel frustration among the youth.

He said structured access to international exposure, skills development and career pathways could make a significant difference, adding that the NSS in the Ashanti Region is exploring ways to scale up the workshop to open more job opportunities for service personnel.

According to him, exposure to international programmes such as Erasmus+ can better prepare young people for the job market while supporting national development. He argued that equipping service personnel with global skills and experience positions them to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economic growth and efforts to reduce unemployment.

Also speaking at the event, a Senior Research Scientist at the CSIR Crops Research Institute and Project Coordinator of the African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF), Dr. Hillary Mireku Botey, said the workshop was designed to bridge the information gap that prevents many service personnel from accessing international scholarships and career development opportunities.

Dr Botey explained that the programme focuses on two key areas: access to European scholarship and career opportunities under Erasmus+, and education on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. He said the initiative aims to empower young people to protect themselves while improving their career prospects.

“I know the government wants to build quality education, and it is important that this quality is not only in-country,” Dr. Botey said. “There is a lot of unemployment in the country. These forums can be another stepping stone. You get sa cholarship, you get to know other cultures and diversity, and also bring a lot of inclusivity.”

The workshop, which is fully funded by the European Union, aligns with Ghana’s broader policies on education, youth development and skills training. Dr Botey encouraged the government to deepen bilateral engagements with European programmes and channel such opportunities through universities and the National Service Scheme.

Participants welcomed the initiative, saying it offered practical guidance on accessing scholarships and international exposure. One participant, Eunice Eshun, said the workshop helped her understand how skills acquired abroad could be brought back to support national development.

“The employment in this country is limited, so going outside gives us a broader view,” she said. “If I learn how systems work elsewhere and come back to implement what I’ve learnt, it will help others as well.”

Other participants agreed that with stronger government backing for programmes like Erasmus+, Ghana could reduce youth unemployment while building a skilled and globally exposed workforce.