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THE YOUTH MUST RISE
AND DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GOVERNMENTS
ACROSS AFRICA
Kwabena Boateng
February 18, 2015
As I observed in THE AFRICAN YOUTH QUESTION,
“There is no doubt that, many of the African
youth are liberated in their minds, horizon,
dreams and ambitions. Many of (them) are
dreaming again and working hard to achieve
(their) dreams. Their self-belief and
confidence are overwhelming. Many of (them)
have now understood and embraced the ‘I can
do’ attitude. Without question, their
greatest unspeakable obstacle…is the
political elite and their bedfellows. What
foundation and legacy is the political elite
leaving for the youth? The political elite
needs to answer this question or the youth
(must) find an appropriate means to elicit a
response “ if they are to escape the endless
spiral of failure which has become a common
feature around them.
It is time for politicians to, willingly or
otherwise, pursue the right policies and
support programmes which would help the
youth to acquire the needed character,
knowledge and skills to tap into the
enormous opportunities the coming decades
offer. This calls for the African
politicians to cease the senseless looting,
greed and create an environment where basic
skills, ambition and the right attitude on
the part of the youth would be enough to
earn a job and make a decent living.
Adopting policies, crafting action plans and
setting up institutions to effect intended
policy objectives are not enough. Those
institutions must work and deliver real
results on the ground.
Very few would disagree with the late Mother
Theresa that; “the youth are our greatest
assets.” No nation could become a powerhouse
without an educated, vibrant, ambitious and
thriving youth. The energies, dynamism and
vision of the youth are needed to provide
the needed force for development.
Africa is blessed with not only natural
resources, which, we have managed to waste,
but with a youth base which could be turned
into an invaluable human capital which could
serve as the basis for any economic,
industrial or knowledge based economies,
whichever, we so desire.
The World Bank observes that, ‘with almost
200 million people aged between 15 and 24,
Africa has the youngest population in the
world’. This indicates a younger labour
force for labour markets. At even the
current rate, this ‘number of young people
in Africa will double by 2045’. Irrespective
of this, there is the likelihood that, the
attitude of most African governments to
youth job creation would turn this
opportunity into a nightmare.
On the other hand, the McKinsey Global
Institute indicates that, at a 2.7%
population growth rate, by 2040, the
continents labour force is estimated to be
‘1 billion strong surpassing both China and
India’ and the largest in the world. The
wealth potential and downside of this
scenario should light a fire under the
comfortable seats of many African leaders to
rise up and tap into this enormous
opportunity rather than allow it to become a
nightmare of continental proportions. With
this raw resource of youth, Africa does not
need gold, oil, platinum and bauxite, to
become a global powerhouse. Our youth, with
their energy, drive and enthusiasm, should
be our gold and diamonds. With vision, focus
and planning, we can and should create a
global highly skilled workforce out of these
youth.
Across the continent, politicians are busily
and directly turning many a young persons in
to bootlickers, gossips, and expendables
with the political machinery whilst their
polices, practices and failures are turning
an equally large numbers into failed members
of our communities for lack of employment
and other opportunities necessary for them,
to achieve their dreams. It is our duty as a
continent to build our youth into an army of
entrepreneurs, engineers, medical doctors,
architects, agriculturalists and teachers
and not mercenaries of wars or tools of
social vices and anarchy.
Of the most wars, revolts and disturbances
on the continent, we see the youth being
used for these troubles. They spend their
days and years on killing fields, killing
each other to protect the greed and
interests of “lords”. Sadly the resources
for the guns come from resources for
education, skills training centre and other
necessary facilities.
Youth in non-conflict areas are no better
off. They face insurmountable challenges for
lack of opportunities and facilities. To
these youth, education and acquisition of
skills have become less of value in the
light of lack of jobs and opportunities. The
society asked them to get education and
training. They have done so to no avail.
They scrap the floors for barely a living,
and or working below their skills level to
make ends meet if they are lucky.
ARNOLD BOATENG
Author of the Books “THE AFRICAN YOUTH
QUESTION, & DREAMS OF OUR YOUTH” (Available
from Amazon and Kindle Store) and Consultant
and Youth Dev. Advocate; AFAG Gen. Secretary
(For interviews/speaking engagements)
Tel: +233-20 98 30 546 |
