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HARNESSING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION FOR
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL ACQUISITION IN GHANA
AfricanAfrican Technology
Technology Policy
Policy Studies
Studies Network
Network (ATPS)(ATPS)TECHNOPOLICYTECHNOPOLICY BRIEF
BRIEF NO.
NO. 6464
Nicholas Ozor
Joel Nwakaire
Alfred Nyambane

HARNESSING SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION FOR
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLACQUISITION IN GHANA

Nicholas Ozor
Joel Nwakaire
Alfred Nyambane

African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)AFR IC

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The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) isa transdisciplinary network of researchers, policymakers,
private sector actors and the civil society promoting thegeneration, dissemination, use and mastery of Science,
Technology and Innovations (STI) for African development,
environmental sustainability and global inclusion. In
collaboration with like-minded institutions, ATPS provides
platforms for regional and international research andknowledge sharing in order to build Africa’s capabilities in
STI policy research, policymaking and implementation forsustainable development.

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Published by the African Technology
Policy Studies Network (ATPS)
P. O. Box 10081, 00100- GPO,
Nairobi, Kenya©2024
ISBN: 978-9966-124-72-2

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Table of Contents
About the Project ......................................................................... iv
About Africa Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS).............. v
Acknowledgement........................................................................ vi
Key Messages............................................................................... vii
1. Introduction ............................................................................ 1
2. Rationale for STI application in Youth Employment ................ 2
3. Methodology .......................................................................... 3
4. Key Findings............................................................................. 4
4.1 STI Policies and Programmes for Youth Employment
			 in Ghana .......................................................................... 4
4.2 STI Institutional Framework for Youth Employment
			 in Ghana .......................................................................... 5
4.3 Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Employment in
Ghana .............................................................................. 6
4.4 Best Practices and Impacts for Youth Employment in
Ghana .............................................................................. 9
5. Conclusion............................................................................... 14
6. Policy Recommendations........................................................ 15
References............................................................................... 18
ATPS TechnoPolicy Briefs Series............................................... 19

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghanaiii

About the ProjectThis project was launched amid Africa’s burgeoning youth population,offering immense potential for productivity and inclusive economic
growth. However, a significant portion of this demographic faces
unemployment challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,
necessitating sustainable solutions through effective policy
interventions and institutional strengthening. Focusing on Ethiopia,
Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, theinitiative reviews Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies
to understand the current landscape, identify successes and failures,and provide evidence-based insights for decision-making in criticalsectors for youth employment and wealth creation. Aligned with
continental strategies such as the Agenda 2063 and initiatives
such as the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works
strategy and the Afreximbank’s campaign for young people’s
participation in the implementation of the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) and youth mainstreaming in policy
engagements and cross-regional dialogues among others, theproject aims to inform policymaking and foster stronger linkages
among stakeholders to address youth unemployment, skills
development, and entrepreneurship. Through rigorous researchand stakeholder engagements, the project is catalyzing
evidence-based policy discussions and contributing to theformulation of effective strategies for job creation and youth
empowerment across Africa.

iv

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

About Africa Technology Policy Studies
Network (ATPS)
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is atransdisciplinary network of researchers, policymakers, private sector
actors and civil society promoting the generation, dissemination,
use and mastery of STI for African development, environmental
sustainability and global inclusion. ATPS has over 5,000 members
and 3000 stakeholders in over 51 countries in 5 continents withinstitutional partnerships worldwide. We implement our programs
through members in national chapters established in 30 countries(27 in Africa and 3 Diaspora chapters in Australia, the United States ofAmerica, and the United Kingdom). In collaboration with like-minded
institutions, ATPS provides platforms for regional and international
research and knowledge sharing in order to build Africa’s capabilities
in STI policy research, policymaking and implementation forsustainable development.

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghanav

Acknowledgement
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) takes
this special opportunity to thank the Mastercard Foundation,
Afreximbank, and other national partners for partnering with us andsupporting this study. The ATPS and partners also wish to appreciate
all the respondents led by the ATPS National Chapter Coordinator for
Ghana for their contributions in this study.

viHarnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Key Messages• Ghana has developed key policies, strategies, and plans for
Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to support technologicalinnovation and skills development for youth employment andentrepreneurship. This has had a significant impact on the
STI ecosystem, influencing youth employment and the overall
performance of Ghana’s economy.
• Various initiatives have been launched to foster youth
entrepreneurship. For instance, Ghana EXIM Bank’s SME Programprovides loans and guarantees to small and medium enterprises.
The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) and the Ghana
Innovation and Research Commercialisation (GIRC) Centre offer
incubation and acceleration services to startups and in thetranslation of research efforts to commercialize products andservices. These initiatives aim to create jobs, spur innovation andaddress environmental challenges. In 2022, the GCIC reported thecreation of 184 jobs, 92 of which were occupied by women, and945 part-time employment opportunities1.
• Ghana runs a supply driven STI system that does not support
increased youth employment, job creation, or entrepreneurshipcoupled with a lack of strong interlinkages among stakeholders in
the STI ecosystem. To enhance the effectiveness of using STI for
increased youth employment, a demand-driven STI system in which
universities and other research institutions adopt a more demanddriven approach in their research and development endeavours
that align with national and regional priorities and aspirations isneeded.
• As a policy priority, the government should increase budgetary
allocations to STI that support youth employment. This can beachieved through partnering with the private sector, development
partners, and other international funding agencies interested in
STI development to enhance youth employment.
1 https://www.ghanacic.org/

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

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viii Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

1. Introduction
Youth unemployment and under-employment are alarming in Ghana,particularly in rural areas, where agriculture is the main source of
employment. Despite the decline in the youth unemployment ratefrom 14.17% in 2015 to 9.16% in 2019 (Ghana Statistical Service,2020), the World Bank shows that approximately 50% of youth are
underemployed in Ghana in 2022. The World Bank report further
asserts that youth unemployment and under-employment rates in
Ghana are higher than the overall rates in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),
which is 11%. An estimated 1.2 million young people aged 15-24 were
unemployed in 2021. With proper training and inclusive economic
policies, increases in the youth population could be a powerfulengine for development (Baah-Boateng 2021).
The increasing number of unemployed youth shows a failure toeffectively utilize the opportunities offered by Science, Technology,
and Innovation (STI) in creating and increasing youth employability
and entrepreneurship. Although Ghana’s economic growth has been
impressive, it has not translated enough into productive employment
opportunities for its youth population, despite government
interventions. The lack of access to relevant skills, limited job
opportunities, and weak entrepreneurial ecosystems contributeto this challenge. Leveraging STI is crucial and may aid in creating
one million jobs per year in Ghana (National Development Planning
Commission [NDPC], 2018).

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

12. Rationale for STI application in
Youth Employment
Ghana’s youth unemployment and under-employment problems
require innovative and sustainable solutions. STI plays a critical rolein this regard. STI policies and their implementation can address skill
gaps and create job opportunities through provisions for vocational
training, digital skills development, and apprenticeships. By prioritizing
STI policies, programmes and their implementation, Ghana can
attract foreign investment and create new businesses and industries
that will create job opportunities for the youth. Technologicalinnovations can increase productivity and competitiveness, leading
to increased exports, economic growth, and improved living
standards, particularly for young people. By providing young people
with the necessary tools and resources, the country can build a more
inclusive and prosperous society, through citizen-led and demanddriven initiatives.

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Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

3. Methodology
This policy brief was developed from a comprehensive study thatdelved into STI policies, institutions, stakeholder mapping, and ananalysis of youth employment within the realm of technologicalinnovation, skill enhancement, and entrepreneurship development.
The study was conducted across seven Sub-Saharan African (SSA)
countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal,and Uganda. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach, whichenabled the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The
data-gathering process commenced with thorough desk studies ofexisting literature and secondary data. Subsequently, key informant
interviews (KIIs) were conducted, involving 20 carefully selected
respondents, to obtain primary data that encompassed both
qualitative and quantitative aspects.
To further enrich the dataset and cross-verify information obtained
through other methods, focus group discussions (FGD) werecarried out. The study engaged participants from a diverse rangeof stakeholder categories, including government officials andpolicymakers, representatives from the private sector and industry,members of civil society and non-governmental organizations(NGOs), researchers, development partners, and individuals from themedia. Special attention was given to ensuring inclusivity and genderbalance in the selection of respondents, with a particular focus on
representing the voices of youth and other marginalized groups.

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4. Key Findings
This section discusses the key findings of the study on thecontribution of STI to youth employment, skill acquisition, and job
creation in Ghana. It highlights some best practices, challenges, andopportunities for youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job
creation.
4.1 STI Policies and Programmes for Youth Employment in Ghana In
Ghana, the promotion of youth employability, entrepreneurship, andjob creation through technological innovation is influenced by arange of STI policies and strategies. Ghana’s government hasdeveloped several STI policies and institutions that directly or
indirectly support technological innovation development that
supports youth employability, entrepreneurship, and job creation.
Some of the key policies include the National Science, Technology, andInnovation Policy of 2017, which aims to provide a broad framework forstimulating innovation in the economy and society. This policy aims topromote innovation and a knowledge-based economy, create jobs, andpromote economic growth by developing Ghana’s scientific andtechnological capacity. This Policy provides the foundation for all otherprogrammes and activities related to technological innovation and skill
development for job creation in the country.
Another key policy is the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Plan (NEIP), 2017, which provides incubation services to Ghanaian
start-ups and entrepreneurs by offering training, mentorship, andfunding to create sustainable businesses and jobs. The primaryobjective is to provide integrated national support to start-ups andsmall businesses. NEIP has led to the creation of over 16,000 jobs foryoung people, with women accounting for 40% of beneficiaries.
Additionally, the report notes that the number of women-owned
businesses registered with the Registrar General’s Department
increased from 9% in 2014 to 21% in 2017, indicating a positive
impact on women’s entrepreneurship. Some selected key STI policies andprogramme that support youth employment, and job creation in
4

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Ghana is shown in Table 1. To strengthen programmes, some specificinterventions should target harnessing youth innovation in Ghana.
These include promoting innovation at all levels of the educational
system, providing scholarships to promising Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students, initiating
mechanisms to identify and mentor young talented scientists, andestablishing award schemes that reward innovation among theyouth.
4.2 STI Institutional Frameworks for Youth Employment in Ghana
Government institutions, such as the Ministry of Environment,
Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), are tasked withpromoting STI development in the country and have high power
and influence in the STI ecosystem. development that leads toyouth employability and job creation through various initiatives.
The establishment of Technology Transfer Centres (TTCs) serves ashubs for technology commercialization, innovation, and incubation.
The Youth Employment Agency (YEA), established in 2006, creates
employment opportunities for Ghanaian youth through theimplementation of various job creation programs. These programs
have had a significant impact on job creation and skill acquisition
for young people in Ghana, with over 107,000 youths employedthrough YEA’s various programs, according to their 2019 annual
report (Abisoye, 2021). Our study shows that some private sector
actors in businesses, research, and NGOs also play significant roles
in supporting youth skill acquisition, thus enabling the creation ofjobs, especially for youth. Examples of such organizations are theInnovation Hub (iHub), UNESCO (e.g., UNESCO in collaboration with
the Ministry of Communications and the Ghana Investment Fund forElectronic Communications (GIFEC) from 2014 to 2016 to enhancethe employability and entrepreneurial skills of young people inrural and underserved areas through ICT training and certification.),
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), andKumasi Hive among many others. The institutional frameworks in
Ghana allow private sector actors, research, and NGOs to work with
Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

5the relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies(MDAs) in public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements to enhanceskill development and provide infrastructure and funding forinnovation development and entrepreneurship. The MESTI wields
the highest power and influence among government institutions,whereas government-funded research organizations (e.g., Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and KNUST have the highest
power and influence among the research actors. The Associationof Ghana Industries was rated the highest in power and influenceamong private sector actors. In terms of interlinkages among these
actors, the study found weak interlinkages to be a dominant problem
in driving technological innovation development, while partnerships
and collaborations are still very weak in driving and transforming
youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship. Table
2 presents the key institutions that support STI policy implementation
for job creation, especially for youth in Ghana.
4.3 Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Employment in Ghana
The challenges for youth employment in Ghana are multifaceted. For
instance, there is a lack of sufficient investments in STI to harness
their full potential. Only 0.38% of Ghana’s GDP was invested in R&D
in 2022 (Sasu, 2023). This is not sufficient compared to the averageof 2.7% in 2020 in OECD countries (OECD, 2022) and is exacerbatedby the fact that the STI system is supply driven and not focused on
Ghana’s economic and social priorities. Additionally, there is minimal
private sector participation in adopting new technologies and raisingproductivity, and the STI system is overburdened by the level ofresources available.
Education and training institutions do not produce graduates with therequired skills to spur technological innovation for economic growth,leading to a skill mismatch in the job market. Furthermore, theabsence of a labour market information system hinders policymakers
from effectively monitoring employment generation policies, and job
seekers rely on their social networks and ad hoc job search strategies.
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Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

A study by Boateng et al (2014) revealed that more than 90% of theyoung job seekers interviewed lacked experience in the positions
that they were applying for. They thought that they could not start
their own businesses without prior experience in the field. Amongthe challenges mentioned in the study by Boateng et al. (2014)
are corruption by local authorities, lack of capital as the primaryobstacle to youth entrepreneurship in rural areas, lack of financial
resources among young people in rural areas of Ghana due to a lackof connections, insufficient funds for deposits, lack of knowledge
about the available sources of financing, and lack of support fromthe government in providing much backing for entrepreneurship as
a career option for young people.
The barriers and challenges identified in Ghana’s youth employment
landscape present significant opportunities for technologicalinnovations. These challenges create opportunities for improving
youth employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in private
enterprises. Improvements in tertiary education should be part of
the national efforts to fight poverty, grow the economy, promote
human development, and increase economic competitiveness.
The government has established two key institutions, the National
Research Foundation, and the Innovation Fund, to oversee
competitive research and innovation development in the country.
Such funding programmes and institutions could focus on producing
graduates with STEM training and problem-solving skills. Additionally,an efficient platform to link job seekers with job openings could beestablished to reduce youth unemployment.
The lack of experience among young job seekers can be addressed
through digital platforms and virtual training programs that provide
practical skills and simulated work experience. Technology can enableaspiring entrepreneurs to overcome the barrier of their limited
prior experience by providing access to online resources, e-learning
platforms, and mentorship networks.
Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

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To combat corruption and nepotism, technology can facilitatetransparent, merit-based hiring processes. Online job portals withrobust verification systems, digital resumes, and automated screening
tools can ensure fair selection procedures and reduce the influenceof bribery and favouritism. For instance, blockchain technology canenhance transparency and integrity in recruitment and eliminate
fraudulent practices.
Inadequate training can be mitigated through e-learning platforms,
virtual classrooms, and online certification programmes. Interactive
digital tools and mobile applications can provide accessible andaffordable training resources, address the skills gap, and equipyoung people with the competencies demanded by the job market.
Technological innovation also presents opportunities for youth
entrepreneurship in rural areas to improve access to capital. Digitalfinancial services, such as mobile banking and peer-to-peer lending
platforms, can overcome traditional barriers such as collateralrequirements and lack of connections. These platforms provide easieraccess to loans, savings accounts, and investment opportunities,
thereby fostering entrepreneurial growth. Moreover, technology
can help overcome the challenges posed by an unstable economic
climate and inadequate governmental assistance.
Digital platforms can provide real-time market information, enabling
young entrepreneurs to make informed decisions, and identify
viable business opportunities. Online business support networks,
incubators, and crowdfunding platforms can provide alternative
avenues for financial and mentorship support, thereby reducing
dependence on government assistance.
By leveraging technological innovations, Ghana can harness thepotential of its youth population, address identified barriers, andcreate a more inclusive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Technology-driven solutions can empower young people, enhancetheir employability, and stimulate economic growth and innovation.
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Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

4.4 Best Practices and Impacts for Youth Employment in Ghana
Government, private sector actors, and development partners havepromoted and supported several initiatives that have positively
impacted youth employment, entrepreneurship, and job creation in
Ghana. The government has implemented policies such as the Ghana
EXIM Bank SME program, and One District One Factory policy tosupport small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and established newfactories, thereby creating job opportunities for young people. The Skill
Development Fund and Ghana Climate Innovation Center have also
provided funding and incubation support for startups and SMEs.
Through sustained public-private partnerships, such as the African
Development Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation MultiDonor Trust Fund, resources have been mobilized to achieve shared
STI goals for job creation and youth employment. Foreign donors anddevelopment partners such as the World Bank, the Mastercard Foundation,and USAID have supported initiatives aimed at reducing youth
unemployment and improving skills acquisition. Public and private
research institutions have also developed technologies andentrepreneurship programs that have led to the establishment of
new industries and expansion of existing ones. Many private sectorbusinesses in Ghana have implemented corporate social
responsibility programs aimed at promoting youth employment andentrepreneurship.
The Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy, seeking toenable three million young individuals to secure dignified andfulfilling employment opportunities by 2030, was initiated in Ghana asa significant step towards upskilling youth and injecting vibrancy into
the job market. Specializing on the empowerment of budding female
entrepreneurs, this initiative furnishes them with vital resources,encompassing business development skills, financial assistance, andfacilitated access to marketplaces. In addition to these initiatives, theMastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Ashesi University, codesigned with the participants themselves–the young and women–aims
to boost job creation and youth employment rates in Ghana. Inclusion
is paramount in this initiative, signaling the commitment to
distribute opportunities evenly across societal demographics.
Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

910 Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Roles in skills development and Impact on skills development andyouth employment
youth employment

Ghana’s
Industrial
Policy of 2011

- Expand productive employment - The policy has fostered innovationand entrepreneurship among thein the manufacturing sector;
youth, enabling them to start andexpand technological capacity ingrow their own businesses and solve
the manufacturing sector; andlocal problems.
promote agro-based industrial
development.

policyhasharnessed- The policy is the foundation of - The
The Nationalinlabourmigration
opportunities
andall programmes and activities
Science,the green economy for the youth,
relatedtotechnologicalTechnology, anddiversifying their income sources andinnovations
skill
and
Innovation Policy
reducing
poverty.
development for job creation inof 2017- It has promoted research andGhana
innovation, vocational and technicalskills development, and digital skills
among the youth, enhancing theiremployability and adaptability- Promotes
anenabling - It has promoted equality and rights
The National
environment
byprovidingfor the youth, ensuring that they are
Entrepreneurshipbusinessdevelopment
services;
protected from discrimination andand Innovation
exploitation in the labour market.
startupincubators
andfunding
Plan (NEIP) offor young businesses to enable - Creation of over 16,000 jobs for young
2017
people, with women accounting forthem to grow and become
40% of the beneficiaries
successful.

STI Policies andProgrammes

The opportunities that are
created by these challenges
include:- Setting up a robust
monitoring and evaluation
framework- Build a strong collaborativeenvironment with equitable,

There are cross-cutting
challenges in theimplementation on thepolicies and programmes
which include:- lack of adequate funding,- inconsistency in government
action due to regime change,- lackofcollaboration
various
betweenstakeholders (PPP), and- absenceofrigorous
monitoring and evaluationto access.

Remarks

Table 1: A summary of key STI Policies, Programmes, and Initiatives for enhancing youth employment in Ghana

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana 11

The Ghana Skills
and Technology
Development
Fund (STDF)- The STDF has provided competitive
grants to enterprises for skills
development
andtechnology
transfer, improving their productivity
and competitiveness and creating
more jobs for the youth.
- Over 4,000 young people have been
trained in various skills and technology
programs through the fund’s support.
These skills include welding, fashion
design, carpentry, and ICT- Promotes the acquisition of - Ithasstimulatedindustrial 		responsible, and inclusive
development and competitiveness inskills and technology among
framework with private
key sectors such as agro-processing,Ghanaian youths, leading tosector and development
manufacturing, and services, creating
job creation and economic
partner.
more jobs and income opportunities - Increasedevelopment.
transparency
for the youthof implementation anddisbursement processes.

12 Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Roles in skills development and youth employment

Impacts on skills development and youth employment

Enablis Entrepreneurial
Network Ghana

Private Sector

Ministry of Food andAgriculture (MoFA)- Identification of SME entrepreneurs with high - Has supported over 3,000 entrepreneurs and createdmore than 10,000 jobs in various sectors, including
growth potential.

- Formulate policy relating to agriculture and - The Youth in Agriculture program has trained over 20,000
young people in various agricultural activities. Has
backstopping in the decentralized department andestablished agribusiness incubation centres to provide
monitoring and evaluation.
technical and financial support to young entrepreneurs.
- Application of STI in agricultural developmentAs a result, the agricultural sector has become ainputs, seeds, and fertilizers to support youths insignificant employer of youth in Ghana, with over 50%
agricultureof the workforce being under the age of 35. Greater
opportunities for skills development and technologicaladvancements will boost youth engagement andenhance the competitiveness of the sector.

Ministry of Environment, - Promote activities needed to underpin the - Over 1,000 entrepreneurs and innovators have been
supported through various technical training centres.
standards and policies required for planning
Science, Technology, andMore funding is needed to upscale benefits.
and implementation of sound scientific andInnovation (MESTI)
technological development activities.
- Ensure the coordination, supervision, monitoring,and evaluation of activities of Environment,
STI while fulfilling national benefits-sharing
commitments.
- Promoting technological innovation, employability,and job creation- Establishment of technology transfer centres (TTCs)
across Ghana.

Government-Ministries, Departments and Agencies

STI Institutions

Table 2: Summary of key STI institutions, their roles and impact on youth employment in Ghana

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana 13- Regulates the activities of industries in the country. - An MOU with the Ghana Education Service, it has
The body also lobbies the government of Ghana on
provided industrial attachment opportunities for
issues that affect industries in the country
senior high school students.
- Through its apprenticeship Programme, over 3000
young people have been trained and equippedwith technical and vocational skills to improvetheir employability. Stronger collaborations withgovernment and other key stakeholders will lead toa more sustainable business environment and create
more jobs for the youths.

agriculture, technology, and manufacturing, which
has impacted directly on youth employment. Public
private partnership will build a multiplier effect on
youth employment and skills development.

Ghana Alliance for Clean
Cookstoves- Provides skills training to young people on how - Has trained over 2,000 young people in clean
cookstove installation and maintenance, createdto manufacture, distribute and market clean
new jobs and skills development opportunities in the
cookstoves, thereby creating job opportunities forclean cookstove sector. Stronger linkages with thethe youth.
public sector will ensure a more viable business thatcan create sustainable jobs for the youths.
- Promotes programs to improve agricultural - Over 1 million Ghanaian farmers have benefited from
Alliance for a Greenproductivity and promote entrepreneurship among
AGRA’s interventions, leading to a 50% increase in
Revolution in Africa, Accra
youth; has partnered with organizations andcrop yields.
(AGRA)
institutions to provide training in various aspects - Has also trained over 17,000 youth in modernof agriculture, including agribusiness, livestock
agricultural techniques and entrepreneurship,
management, and soil management.
creating over 5,000 jobs in the agricultural sector.
- aims to create opportunities for young people to
STI should be leveraged on to ensure that youths are
participate in the agricultural sector and contributeempowered with the skills needed for current andto economic growth and development.
future job markets.

NGOs/CSOs

Association of Ghana
Industries (AGI)- Nurturing their professional and personal
development and providing them with networking,coaching, mentoring and skills acquisition.

14 Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana 15

16 Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana

Harnessing science and technological innovation for youth employment and skill acquisition in Ghana 17

References
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unemployment in Africa. Brookings Institution. https://www.
brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/12/08/the-case-forjob-creation-hubs-to-reduce-youth-unemployment-in-africa/
Baah-Boateng, W. (2021). Youth Employment and unemployment
challenges in Ghana: how does the media understand the issues?
Department of Economics, University of Ghana. Private-SectorYouth-Employment-The-Role-of-the-Media-21.09.2021.pdf(includeplatform.net)
Boateng, B. O., Boateng, A. A., and Bampoe, H. S. (2014). Barriers toyouthful entrepreneurship in rural areas of Ghana. Global Journalof Business Research Vol. 8(3).
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National Development Planning Commission [NDPC] (2018). Ghana’slong-term national development plan: Ghana Vision 2027. https://www.ndpc.gov.gh/images/Ghana%20Vision%202027.pdf
National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme [NEIP](2022). National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme: key
achievements. https://neip.gov.gh/
Sasu, D. (2023). Gross domestic expenditure on R&D as a share of
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Ghana%27s%20gross%20domestic,0.38%20percent%20of%20
its%20GDP.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD](2022). Main Science and Technology Indicators – Highlights– March 2022. https://www.oecd.org/sti/msti-highlightsmarch-2022.pdf
Oppong, F and Sebastian J. (2016). Tax Expenditure Estimates in
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TUD

The African Technology Policy Studies Network(ATPS) is a transdisciplinary network of researchers,
policymakers, private sector actors and the civilƐŽĐŝĞƚǇƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐƚŚĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ͕ĚŝƐƐĞŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ͕ƵƐĞĂŶĚŵĂƐƚĞƌǇŽĨ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ͕dĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚ/ŶŶŽǀĂƟŽŶƐ(STI) for African development, environmentalƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂů ŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ͘ /Ŷ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚ ůŝŬĞͲŵŝŶĚĞĚ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ͕ dW^ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐĨŽƌƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĚŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĂŶĚknowledge sharing in order to build Africa’sĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ^d/ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ƉŽůŝĐǇŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶĨŽƌƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘

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