‘Don’t look up to gov’t; Work with your head and hands’ – Franklin Cudjoe advises unemployed graduates

Franklin Cudjoe has tasked unemployed youth especially graduates in the country to help ease the “crumbling wage bill in the public sector” by harnessing their entrepreneurial potentials.

He says graduates should “not think you are too big a graduate to do some type of work,” sharing how he engaged in other ventures to support himself in the university.

The Founder and President of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, in a social media post sighted by Ghanasonline.com on the May Day observation advised that, government has no funds to hire the teeming unemployed graduates and it was time they shun idleness to do something on their own.

“If you are a graduate and have been idle for eons after finishing school, this is not the time to look up to government for jobs- as there are no funds to hire. Start something,” he said.

Mr. Cudjoe added that, with the current economic conditions, friends can pull resources together to form businesses, whereas offering to render volunteer services to organisations could also be an alternative.

The quest for white-collar jobs, he said, should not be the only means of securing employment, considering the economic inviability of the country at the moment.

Read his full post below:

While in the University, KNUST, I used to order ‘fried rice’ from The Dish Restaurant near the Kumasi Sports Stadium and personally deliver to colleague students ( including ladies at Africa Hall. I didn’t have to be shy) and working professionals in Kumasi. I made agency fees to top up my diminished funds.

Don’t forget, while selling food, I was also President of the Land Management and Development Students Association, a member of the SRC and helped establish the first Student Membership of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors,(made up of Building Tech, Geodetic Engineering and Land Economy students.)

I still found time to sell ‘fried rice’. However, I had learned entrepreneurship by doing. I actually helped my late mum sell fish from age 11 through ‘O’-level and ‘A’- level education. I learned to be entrepreneurial from adversity and the impact was life-changing.

If you are a graduate from a modest and poor home waiting for ‘coat-coat’ jobs without haven done time with your head and hands, then you will have a hard time being independent. If you are a graduate and have been idle for eons after finishing school, this is not the time to look up to government for jobs- as there are no funds to hire. Start something.

Offer to be a sales person for any good company , any covid-19 related company, self-appointed covid-19 ambassador offering to teach people about safety tips and getting agency fees from selling covid-19 products, find friends who will join up resources to start a business.

Do not add to the crumbling wage bill in the public sector. Do not think you are too big a graduate to do some type of work . Remember, survival before growth. You can choose hunger too. Happy May Day.”- Franklin Cudjoe