In line with government's efforts to reduce the unemployment statistics in Ghana among graduates and young people, the Student Representative Council of the Ghana Technology University College has launched the school's chapter of the Campus Business Pitch under the auspices of the Ministry of Business Development at the Tesano campus in Accra.

Communication Specialist at the Ministry of Business Development, Mr Kofi Twum Boafo said that the President, Nana Akufo-Addo's initiative through the   Ministry aims to instil entrepreneurship in the minds of students before they graduate noting that it has the potential to cause change in the country's economy.

"It is a deliberate action by government to create an entrepreneurial economic system that   will promote job creation and improvements in livelihood" he stated.

As part of the initiative, Mr Boafo noted that government aims to train about 10,000 students annually and   2 million students in the next 5 years in various universities across the country as well as replicate it in Senior High Schools.

The initiative will also allow government to conduct a 10 year research into reducing unemployment levels in the country through student entrepreneur empowerment resulting in job creation and unemployment reduction.

Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, President of GTUC said that the university has adopted entrepreneurship as part of their training approach in all aspects of their academic curricula.

He, therefore, expressed confidence in the success of the initiative in GTUC and their success in the grande finale. He pointed out the positive impacts entrepreneurship has had on the economies of developed nations hence their decision to streamline their programs to include entrepreneurship.
Prof Afoakwa challenged the students to be creative in identifying problems and create solutions for these problems in the country. He pledged management's support for all students who decide to pitch their ideas.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Isaac Abeiku Blankson encouraged students, especially final year students to take advantage of the initiative. He urged them to undertake business projects that can make an impact after they graduate.

Ms. Pamela Aboagyewaa Mantey, Student Representative Council President   expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo and the Ministry of Business Development for the initiative. She noted that it will help provide employment for students and reduce unemployment. She said that it will also help to reduce poverty as winners will receive cash to help them cater for themselves and will subsequently reduce social vices.

The initiative will identify students with the passion for entrepreneurship in various campuses across the country with the grand finale coming off in 2020. Applications at GTUC will open from November 30th 2019 for five days.

Campus Business Pitch is a government initiative aimed at stimulating the entrepreneurial mindset of young people to make them job creators and not job seekers. The Ministry of Business Development has invested an amount of GH¢3 million in the program.