Rashid Pelpuo, the Minister-Designate for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, has clarified remarks he made about unemployment, stating that his comments were misinterpreted.
This follows reports from 2020 that the Wa Central MP advised young people to consider alternative ways of addressing unemployment, such as gathering stones to sell at construction sites or cutting grass to sell in areas where livestock are bred.
He reportedly stated that success in life does not always require formal education, but rather a shift in mindset, perception, and determined attitude.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Mr Pelpuo explained that his statement was meant to encourage young graduates to explore alternative employment opportunities rather than rely solely on government jobs.
According to him, he was quoting an example to emphasise self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Pelpuo further elaborated that his point was about identifying opportunities within communities to create sustainable livelihoods.
“I know what I was talking about and when I realized that people were misunderstanding and misusing it, I started looking for the full tape to play so people could see what I was talking about.
“So, it is simply not the case that I told graduates to do so. I was just quoting somebody and trying to encourage my Ghanaian fellows that if you are, for example, a nurse and you have a skill, you are better off. If you go into a community and there are no nurses, you can start something on your own.
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“…If you go into a community and the people consume a particular product, you can go and get those products and send them there; that is a bigger form of it. It was a basic example I was citing. It is to give perspective to the Ghanaian workforce so we can find within ourselves the capacity and the means to earn a living,” he stated.
