Professor Sulemana Al-Hassan, Head of the Mining Department of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), has observed that inability of the youth to secure jobs was due to their lack of employable skills.
He said there were a number of vacant job opportunities available but the skills of the youth do not match up to the requisite requirements in the labour market.
Prof Al-Hassan made the observation during the inauguration of the Western Regional branch of the Nandom Senior High School Old Boys
Association (NASSOBA) at Tarkwa.
It was on the theme: "Equalising opportunities and prospects through
education: the function of old-boysm in northern Ghana."
He said appropriate education designed for specialised fields such as mining, processing, manufacturing and other sectors must be taken seriously
by the youth when pursuing academic careers.
Prof Al-Hassan said the high levels of poverty among the people of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions had contributed to rising cases of ethnic conflicts in the area.
He said while many of the people engaged in menial and labour intensive jobs that were detrimental to their health and safety, some self-seeking individuals who should be providing guidance and support to the youth, rather capitalise on the high levels of poverty, low educational standards and use money to influence them to engage in conflicts.
Prof Al-Hassan said it was time people from the northern regions, came together to transform their relationships through the promotion of
education.
"Those who have benefited from quality education should motivate others to aspire to such levels while guiding them to employment opportunities that exist that they may have no idea about, to improve the social status of
northerners," he stressed.
Mr Andrian Samson Kuubezung, Assistant Headmaster of Nandom Senior High School said the academic facility lacked toilet facilities and appealed to the old students to come to the aid of their alma mater.
He said there were 35 teachers overseeing 855 students while lack of staff and students accommodation made it difficult for newly posted teachers to accept postings.
Mr Kuubezung said in spite of the challenges the students continued to excel academically and in all sporting activities.
He asked members of NASSOBA to support the school with teaching and learning materials.
The Reverend Brother Albert Katelaars, a lecturer at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus, who inaugurated the association, said the mission was to mobilise members of NASSOBA to assist their alma matter to develop.
He urged the members to embark on a massive membership drive to attract more people to join the association.