Former Deputy Ashanti Regional minister Hon. Joseph Yammin says government should not be blamed for the high level of unemployment in the country.
Speaking in an interview with Sir Richmond Antwi Boasiako on Royal Fm’s morning show he stated that ‘‘most of our elderly folk are still at post in spite of their age and yet complain of graduate unemployment’’. He said this is a behaviour which is uncalled for.
‘‘Our brothers and sisters who are graduates can occupy such positions if those retired will face the reality of their ages and go according to the law’’.
Hon Yammin was worried about employers demanding working experience from graduates before offering them jobs. ‘‘Who should first employ them for them to get that experience?”, he queried.
He further asked ‘‘were President kufuor, JJ Rawlings, Atta Mills and John Dramani Mahama Presidents before assuming the seat as presidents?’’ He believes Ghana will never change if we maintained such “bad culture”.
Asked whether he misses his former position as the deputy regional minister, he stated that ‘‘when you go to America and you have fufu as your favourite food, for sometime if you don’t get some you will definitely miss your country’’.
He however praised President John Dramani Mahama saying he knows best what decisions will help the country.
He stated his gratitude to the President for giving him the opportunity to serve in various aspects of governance.
Many years ago overseas, I had two good friends, one was in his late 30s and the other in his very early 40s.
Both men had Phds yet both men had been unemployed for several years. Both men applied for all types of positions at all levels. The very clear reason for their lack of success in gaining employment was the same for both; they were considered to be too old by prospective employers.
The age barrier kicked in because older people can become stuck in their own ideas and ways and usually find change an impossibility whereas young people have the propensity for positive change providing they do not throw out the wise counsel of the aged.
In the world where I come from being employed is all about performance. Few organisations employ people on the basis of providing permanent positions. Most employment is contract based. It is all about achieving intended outcomes, In other words: no positive results no job!
Agreed Key Performance Indicators are what an employer measures the employee against. You commence in a contract and you and your employer agree that you will achieve certain results (outcomes) within a specific time frame. At the end of six months or so if you haven’t achieved those outcomes without very good reasons then your contract is terminated without delay. Conversely, if you have achieved the results and completed your contract then you will go on to easily obtain another contract as your reputation will precede you.
Today no one can say they own a job. What causes a person to stay in employment is top performance which achieves top results. This is much the same as governments. If the government doesn’t perform and achieve the results demanded by its boss, the citizens, then the electorate dismisses it at the next election. Why then should it be any different for an ordinary employee?
If your performance as an ordinary employee or business person, in whatever you do does not achieve professionalism, top results and contributes positively to the society in which you live why should you expect governments to do it for you?