The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has underscored the urgency for the government and education stakeholders to establish a conducive environment and entrepreneurial pathways in Ghana, encouraging young university graduates to stay and contribute to the nation’s development.
Expressing concern over the growing trend of talented graduates seeking opportunities abroad, he emphasized the potential threat this poses to the future of the country.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu acknowledged that while human migration is not inherently negative, the current scenario, particularly the departure of professionals such as nurses, doctors, and teachers for better prospects overseas, presents a significant challenge.
In his address at the 57th Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he stressed the importance of collective efforts to transform the country into an attractive and compelling place for the youth to build their careers.
Over 10,000 teachers relocate to UK
Recent data from the National Teaching Council reveals that over 10,000 Ghanaian teachers, holding Teacher Licenses, have been certified by the UK Department of Education to work in the United Kingdom (UK) as of June 13, 2023.
Out of the 16,000 Ghanaian teachers who applied for employment in the UK earlier this year, these licensed teachers are exempt from the UK government’s qualified teacher status test, entering the classroom directly.
Over 8,000 nurses and midwives relocate abroad
In the healthcare sector, over 8,000 nurses and midwives trained in Ghana have left the country between January 2022 and June 2023, seeking better opportunities abroad.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) reports that approximately 4,000 nurses and midwives migrated in 2022, and an additional 4,000 departed between January and June 2023.
Furthermore, from January to July 2023, a total of 10,209 nurses and midwives sought clearance from the association to travel outside the country.
A study revealed that 59.9% of nurses currently in active practice have intentions of immigration.
Doctors intend traveling abroad
A survey of 360 doctors practicing in Ghana indicated that about 95 have considered leaving the country for more developed nations.
The Unemployed Nurses Association estimates a backlog of 25,000 to 30,000 general nurses trained by public nursing training colleges from 2020 and 2021 who are yet to be employed.
This figure excludes nurses trained by accredited private nursing colleges and universities.
The association also notes that the referral batch for 2019 has not been engaged by the government.
Over 40,000 trained health workers not employed
When accounting for nurses trained by private institutions, the total number of unemployed nurses could be around 40,000.
This substantial migration of skilled professionals poses significant challenges for Ghana’s healthcare and education sectors, with potential implications for service delivery and workforce capacity.
The country faces the dual challenge of retaining its trained workforce while addressing the employment needs of these professionals at home.
The government and relevant stakeholders are urged to explore strategies to retain talent and create conducive environments for professionals to contribute to national development.
Negative effects of brain drain
The departure of skilled workers, especially in sectors crucial to national development like health, education, and agriculture, has been identified as a significant challenge.
The departure of a publicly trained and educated workforce is seen as a loss of investment, as the nation loses out on the skills it invested in nurturing.
This can result in limited growth and development of local academic, teaching, and research institutions, as well as other public sector entities.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu called on the government and education stakeholders to adopt innovative strategies for creating an effective environment and entrepreneurial avenues that facilitate job creation, ultimately retaining young graduates within the country.
The Asantehene also highlighted the need to combat illegal mining activities, expressing concern about the environmental damage caused by such practices.
He implored all stakeholders to actively participate in the fight against illegal mining to safeguard the country’s natural resources.
Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, present at the event, endorsed the digitization agenda of the government as a transformative path for the nation.
He announced that, starting from December this year; newborns would receive their Ghana cards at birth, showcasing the government’s commitment to digitization efforts.
Dr. Bawumia applauded KNUST’s leadership role in science and technology education and pledged the government’s support in completing the University Teaching Hospital to enhance practical education and training in health.
Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, reported that a total of 17,437 students graduated this year, including 13,170 undergraduates and 4,267 post-graduate students.
She affirmed the university’s commitment to training human resources in various fields to expedite the nation’s development.
Source:zedmultimedia