The Member of Parliament for New Edubiase, Abdul Adams Salam, who also serves on Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports, has attributed the rising trend of young Ghanaians traveling abroad after school to the lack of economic opportunities in the country.
Speaking on Akoma Mu Nsɛm show on Akoma 87.9 FM hosted by Beatrice Spio Garbrah Monday, June 23, 2025, the MP emphasized that the desire to seek better prospects overseas is not a new phenomenon.
According to him, even in previous Parliaments, efforts were made by members of the Youth and Sports Committee including himself to curb excessive youth migration.
“It’s not a new issue, and I believe my colleagues, particularly those who served on the Youth and Sports Committee in the previous Parliament, of which I was also a member, have all taken steps to curb excessive travel,” he said.
He pointed out that wanting to travel after school is not inherently wrong. However, the concern should be about what young people intend to do once they get to their destinations, and the kind of human capital Ghana is losing in the process.
“We must put things in the right perspective: a young person choosing to travel after school hasn’t committed any crime. The real question is, what will they do when they get there? Another concern is the caliber of people leaving. It all boils down to the kind of opportunities available here,” he stated.
The MP further lamented the country’s high unemployment rate, which he pegged at over 14%, as a key driving force behind the growing appetite for migration among Ghana’s youth.
“With an unemployment rate of over 14%, the chances of securing a job after school are very slim. That’s the reality forcing many of our young people to look outside for greener pastures,” he added.
The lawmaker’s comments come amid growing concerns over the brain drain and its impact on national development, especially as many skilled graduates continue to exit the country in search of better working conditions and livelihoods.
By Emmanuel Owusu|AkomaFM|Kumasi
