It’s a sunny Thursday morning. Normal daily activities going on, the hawkers on the street infront of my office are no longer there. The streets look blazingly clear, I peep through my office window down unto the stress to draw inspiration from the moving classy cars.
“A colleague suddenly calls and breaks the news about his sister's (who is a medical doctor) forthcoming wedding and that I should suggest to him a type of jacket to wear”.
He further explained that his sister (Ghanaian-trained doctor) has come from New York to marry in Ghana. I then ask “why would she come down here to just marry? Is the guy in Ghana also?” Then he replies, "oh no ! The guy is her colleague doctor in New York, NYU Langone Hospital”. Both are Ghanaian trained doctors from the University of Ghana medical School.
After the call, I analysed the whole conversation. Two Ghanaian trained doctors decided to work in New York but not in Ghana, why? Is this not brain drain?
After a short while, Kwaku Asante, another friend of mine, calls to complain of his rent at Lakeside and the trauma he has to go through before getting to work at 7 am each day. As a young graduate from Legon, he is forced to pay GHS600.00 monthly rent fees. Aside from that, he paid for two years IN advance as demanded by the landlord. This, I believe, is the problem of many young people in Ghana. How do landlords expect National Service Personnel or young graduate to pay two years advance rent charge?
As I was thinking about all these, I chanced on a colleague's posts on his WhatsApp status, “Please pray for NSS personnel. The end is near “
Though this seemed very funny, it is also very worrying and deep. My friends are always terrified and troubled because National Service will end soon, companies have already started recruiting new personnel. This is a clear indication that before you will be maintained at your post of service, unless your creator intervenes. Jobs are also very difficult to get these days, the system seems frustrating, our ladies are now on Snapchat doing hook ups, everyone is selling, the ones that can afford are doing Bolt and Uber business, so frustrating. As these plights become glaring, all my friends plan to leave this country.
I know great potentials, their passion to serve this country, the brains to help change things in Ghana, but if they stay, where are the jobs for them. After deep thoughts, I now understand why both lovers are working in New York City. Every young graduate wants to leave for overseas for hope and greener pastures. My colleagues, including student doctors, nurses and engineers who can support Ghana's future, all crave for a better life elsewhere.
Brain drain is killing us slowly as a country. Aside from the positive effect of foreign remittances on the economy (contributing about 2% to GDP), it slows economic growth because we are losing highly trained citizens who could have increased productivity.
Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan association that is concerned with providing information revealed that about 75% of Ghanaians are likely to leave for abroad immediately, should they be given the opportunity.
In Ghana, migration accounts for the loss of not less than 40% of human resource. This reality has hindered economic development.
Since 1997, International Organisation for Migration has analysed that Africa’s rapid migration has cost $9 billion in the loss of its human capital and growth potential.
According to the Ghana Immigration Service, 187,252 Ghanaians left in 2014, 268,149 left in 2015 and 293,754 Ghanaians left in 2016. This regular annual escalation has caused a shake in the economy.
I’m only concerned because these scare me each night. Should I also stay?
According to Adam Smith, the prosperity and success of a country is determined by the skills, efficiency, attitudes and efforts of the labor used by that country.
If we are going to lose our trained doctors, nurses, accountants and other professionals each day , it becomes worrying.
Dear friends, let’s fight for the betterment of this country.
The writer, Emmanuel Owusu Agyei Ampem, is a young graduate and National Service Personnel.
Source: classfmonline.com
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Hi Evans, I have read your comment and ask that you be encouraged. I'm not sure if you are a believer but I think you should focus on God. Humans' help is limited. Believe in God and trust in Him to deliver to you a job that will make you testify to the nations of this world. He alone can help you. I know this because He has helped me greatly. I know no one, I have no one but he has been gracious unto me. Pray more, trust Him more and believe in Him more. He holds the whole world in His hands you know; the whole world.
i had soo much passion for the ghana army. after graduating from the University of Ghana in 2013, i applied for the officers recruitment, and i wasnt selected, in 2014 i bought the voucher again, applied again, but wasnt selected. in 2015, i bought the voucher again, applied and this time round i had a call.....the officer calling said "hey gentleman, you cant enter the military with First class degree, join other corporate profession, u are too brilliant to be in the Army". Bro, I wept my heart out that day. funny enough, i took the officer's advice and started sending my applications to several companies. after attention several interviews none of the companies called back.........i was very devastated.....i was informed companies only call applicants for interview just for formality sake, for they have already selected those they wish to employ....so a friend introduced me to a company that sell doors. they were ready to offer my a sales agent position, with no car available i was expected to walk all over ghana to bring customers to purchase the product. walking in this hot sun after university education? Hmmmmmm, with no option available, i accepted the offer with a heavy heart. Bro, it was very tough for me but i was able to gather some money from the sales i made. i decided to upgrade my self academically with the hope of getting a better offer after school. i applied for my masters degree programme at UGBS, and graduated in 2020. i even went back to my "door company" after school, but covid made it impossible to recruit more people................with my masters kuraa i was ready for a sales agent yet they refused. eeeeiiii ghana. now am unemployed, walking from morning to evening just to get a job with my many application letters. i have a well edited and reviewed CV, a beautiful first class degree certificate, and now a masters degree,,,,,,,,,,at a point in time i even regretted wasting my money to acquire a masters degree........life is now unbearable. i have no links or family connections so i follow the usual procedures in getting a job, yet nothing good comes out at the end of the day. one day, as i was hiding in my little ghetto, a friend came to me and asked, "WHEN IS THE NEXT SHIP COMING TO THE SHORES OF GHANA TO PICK UP SLAVES TO AMERICA. I WISH TO BE A SLAVE THERE THAN BE A GRADUATE IN GHANA. If i have the means I WILL ALSO LEAVE GHANA!!!!!! +233243678236