Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has said that youth unemployment in the country is a national security threat.
Thousands of youth continue to queue up to be enlisted in the various security services. The long queue started at dawn on Monday, October 25, 2021 as applicants, made up of mostly unemployed youth are being taken through various stages including screening, body and height check.
Hundreds of people gathered at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra earlier this week to begin the recruitment process for the Ghana Immigration Service.
Scenes from the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, where thousands of applicants running to secure spots in queues, have been flooding social media, Concerns have been raised about the process of screening and enlisting young people into the security services and forces.
Speaking on the matter on Key Points on TV3/3FM Saturday October 30 with host Dzifa Bampohon, Mr Toobu stated that the country’s lack of jobs is a serious threat to national security.
“What is happening right now in the security sector is just a simple sign that what is written in the national security strategy that youth unemployment remains the greatest threat to our national security, a true statement.
According to Mr. Toobu, who is also a veteran police officer, the recruitment system has been stagnant since 1992, with no discernible improvements.
“When I joined the Police in 1992, what I have seen apart from the initial online application, there is no change. What it means is that for over almost 30 years we have actually not changed the system so much.
“Couldn’t we have done this better? As a member of the Defense and Interior committee with an oversight responsibility on the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of National security, I am sure that all of us are beginning to look at this differently”, he added.
Mr. Toobu stated that the recruitment process could be streamlined by utilizing modern technologies in order to reduce stress among the youth.
“Technology is transforming the whole world and gradually, we should begin to simplify some of these processes to ensure that these young people who are ready frustrated can actually get recruited in a very dignified and in a very humane manner.
“Looking at what is happening, sometimes we say that you need to have a feel of what is like to get into the job but gradually, the psychological impact on these young people before they get recruited can be lasting for their lifetime , lasting for their career.
So, I think that we should begin to look at it differently using technology. We can shorten the process, we can simplify the process”, he added.
Source: Ghanapubliceye.com/Jennifer Owusu
