The Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, popularly known as Zuba, has urged National Service personnel, particularly those in the Ashanti Region, not to rely solely on government employment after completing their service but to utilize the knowledge and skills acquired from their tertiary education to establish their own businesses.
According to the Mayor, graduates from different academic disciplines can combine their expertise and innovative ideas to create sustainable businesses and generate employment opportunities for themselves and others.
Speaking to the media during the National Service Conference and Awards Ceremony held in Kumasi, Mr. Ofori Agyemang Boadi noted that the public sector currently lacks the capacity to absorb the increasing number of graduates entering the job market each year.
“If three to ten graduates from different fields such as engineering, marketing, surveying, and other disciplines come together and combine the knowledge they acquired in school, they can establish successful businesses instead of depending entirely on government employment,” he stated.
The Mayor further observed that some academic programmes offered by tertiary institutions do not directly correspond with available job opportunities, making it necessary for graduates to think creatively and explore entrepreneurial ventures.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Director of the National Service Authority, Emmanuel Raggan Fynn, advised newly elected National Service executives to serve diligently, selflessly, and with integrity in order to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the Authority in the region.
He noted that the executives were elected because of the confidence their colleagues have in their leadership abilities and therefore should work hard to justify that trust.
Mr. Fynn also highlighted the National Service Authority’s efforts to equip service personnel with employable skills through various skills development and entrepreneurship programmes aimed at reducing unemployment among graduates.
“The National Service Authority has introduced several skills training programmes to equip personnel with practical knowledge that will enable them to create employment opportunities for themselves after service. I therefore encourage the newly elected executives to collaborate closely with the Authority to strengthen these initiatives and help bridge the unemployment gap,” he said.
As part of the conference, several individuals were honoured for their outstanding support and contributions towards the activities and development of the National Service Authority in the Ashanti Region.
Among the award recipients were the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene; the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi (Zuba); the Municipal Chief Executive for Oforikrom, Ahmed Anwel Sadat; and other distinguished personalities.
