660 graduate from University of Gold Coast
Six hundred and sixty students have graduated from the University of Gold Coast (formerly Accra Business School) across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with a call for inclusivity and youth empowerment as key drivers of national development.
Among the graduates was the National Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Divisional Officer I Desmond Essoun Ackah, who received a subject award in Destination, Heritage and Culture Marketing.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Accra on Saturday, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, called for a fundamental shift in national attitudes towards youth employment and development.
He stated that policymakers and employers must prioritise the immediate engagement of graduates in the workforce rather than imposing prolonged working experience requirements.
Dr Amoakohene noted that many graduates entered the job market equipped with both academic knowledge and practical training but faced exclusion due to rigid employment criteria demanding several years of prior experience.
He described such expectations as unrealistic and counterproductive to the country’s development agenda.
He appealed to both public and private sector institutions to establish structured pathways for young professionals to gain experience, indicating that these should include mentorship programmes, internships and entry-level opportunities designed to integrate graduates into the workforce.
The Minister emphasised that Ghana’s development depended significantly on empowering young people to contribute meaningfully from the outset of their careers.
He encouraged graduates to remain confident and prepared to take on responsibilities, stressing that leadership was cultivated through opportunity, trust and practical engagement.
Dr Amoakohene added that it was contradictory to demand experience from graduates while denying them the opportunity to acquire it.
The PRO of the GNFS, Mr Ackah, expressed excitement at the event and called for the adoption of targeted marketing and communication strategies to enhance fire safety awareness nationwide following his recognition at the ceremony.
He stated that fire safety communication must move beyond generalised messaging to more structured and audience-specific approaches.
According to him, different population groups responded differently to information, making it necessary to tailor fire safety education to traders, transport operators, students and households.
DO1 Ackah explained that targeted communication strategies would improve behavioural outcomes, noting that awareness alone was insufficient unless it led to safer practices in homes, markets and workplaces.
He highlighted the importance of integrating modern communication tools into fire prevention campaigns, including radio discussions in local languages, social media platforms and community-based outreach initiatives.
The GNFS PRO added that his academic training in marketing and communication had reinforced the value of data-driven strategies in analysing public perception and designing effective fire safety messages.
He stressed that fire safety education remained a critical component of national disaster prevention efforts, adding that proactive communication could significantly reduce preventable fire incidents.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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