Ghana: Fighting for a better future for young people

Over the past two years, grassroots leaders from FAITH in Ghana Alliance listened to more than 10,000 people in 30 communities across Ghana. One common issue is lack of job opportunities for young people – a problem plaguing and destabilizing Ghana and countries across Africa.

Now, teams of grassroots leaders in two rural communities in Northern Ghana – Fian and Busunu – are taking on the problem of youth unemployment by campaigning to open Technical Senior High Schools. These schools would prepare students for trades like carpentry and Information Technology so they can earn a living once they graduate.

Each community has secured land for the high schools and materials to begin construction. Already, Fian has twelve classrooms constructed. However, both teams have a long way to go in achieving their goals. They’re negotiating with local officials to include the construction of the schools in their districts’ annual budgets and to obtain support from the National Education Department for teachers, equipment, and materials.

In September, 110 FAITH in Ghana leaders from 30 communities and 10 of Ghana’s 16 regions met to share their progress in piloting multi-faith community organizing and learning from each other. Communities are organizing for schools, health clinics, bridges, sanitation infrastructure, and clean water. In the process, they’re making progress and, in the process, laying the foundation for a movement to refocus the resources and political will of their country’s government on development.

Today, less than five percent of all the revenue collected by Ghana—which is rich in gold, oil, and other natural resources—is dedicated to community development. FAITH in Ghana leaders know that young people will not have a decent future until that changes.