The Ghana Report, an award-winning news website and a subsidiary of I-ZAR Group Limited, has launched its Maiden Ghana Report Jobs & Entrepreneurship Fair, in collaboration with the Youth Employment Agency, targeted at offering over 5,000 job opportunities to job seekers and also equipping them with employable skills for the job market.
During an August launch yesterday, September 6, at the Kempinski Hotel, the job fair was duly inaugurated, and it is slated to span two weeks, commencing on September 19, 2024, to Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Centre and the Black Star Square.
The overarching goal of the job fair is to connect job seekers with employers, equip the participants with the requisite employable skills in demand, create a corporate network, and offer knowledge primed for success.
The Job and Entrepreneurship Fair’s scope also encompasses academia, where it will provide the forum for business incubation and offer grants to Ghanaian tertiary institutions for viable research projects.
The Fair, under a private-public partnership model, would offer immediate recruitment by about 100 top-tier companies and state institutions that will be present to employ prospective employees.
A number of companies and Chief Executive Officers have affirmed participation, including telecommunication companies like MTN and Telecel, government representatives, security agencies, business owners, and top employment agencies, among others, confirming participation.
Chief Executive of I-ZAR Group, Rashida Saani Nasamu, underscored the importance of the fair, which is hinged on alleviating unemployment through equal opportunities to work on a merit basis, which eliminates nepotism and favoritism.
“By eliminating biases and ensuring a merit-based selection process, we aim to level the playing field and ensure that every capable Ghanaian has an equal chance at finding meaningful employment regardless of background or connections.”
“This approach will not only help in reducing unemployment but also ensure that employers find the best talent to drive their businesses forward,” she said.
Security Analyst Mr. Sani Adib stressed the need to address unemployment, which isn’t just an economic issue but a national security threat, especially during an election period where “youth are always a catalyst for the spread of politically motivated violence during elections,” he added.
With the unemployment rate rising to 14% In the third quarter of 2023, it has become a topical issue going into the election, with the Global Info Analytics and Baseline Survey polls highlighting it as a major voter decision.