Government sending our youth out for jobs an indication of leadership incompetence—-Oppong Brenya

Chief Executive Officer of Bizline Consult, Joseph Osei Oppong Brenya, has called on African leaders to prioritize youth development and job creation as a sustainable solution to illegal migration.

Speaking at a Youth Connect Program organized by the Youth Development Network, a UK-based organization, Mr. Oppong Brenya criticized Ghana’s recent initiative to send young people to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other countries for employment.

He argued that the policy contradicts the government’s heavy investment in education, including Free Basic Education, Free Senior High School, and Free First-Year Tertiary Tuition.

“Ghana’s government has implemented free education at various levels only to have our energetic youth, whom we have heavily invested in, work elsewhere. This is an utterly illogical initiative.

What does this say about us? It implies a lack of foresight, ineffectiveness, and that the individual behind this initiative is misinformed. This is a blatant sign of leadership incompetence,” he stated.

His comments come after the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, deployed the first batch of skilled Ghanaian craftsmen to Dubai under the YEA Work Abroad Initiative.

Mr. Oppong Brenya warned that such programs contribute to Africa’s continuous loss of skilled and energetic youth to Europe, America, and Canada, where job opportunities are more abundant.


He outlined key steps that African governments should take to reverse this trend:

- Create an Enabling Environment: Develop and implement policies that discourage illegal migration while supporting youth entrepreneurship.

- Establish Industries: Create sustainable employment opportunities for young people and promote industrial growth across the continent.

- Introduce Favorable Exchange Rates: Peg the local currency in ways that make staying and working in Africa economically attractive.

Mr. Oppong Brenya’s call aligns with broader continental initiatives such as the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which focuses on equipping young people with leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

In Ghana, the National Youth Authority (NYA) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with youth-led organizations to promote patriotism, empower young people, and tackle challenges affecting their growth.

Mr. Brenya emphasized that by investing in youth development and working collaboratively with
young innovators, African leaders can build a continent where young people thrive and contribute
meaningfully to national development rather than seeking opportunities abroad.