The Ghanaian dream: Youth in despair

Is the Ghanaian Dream Real?

Have you heard of the Ghanaian dream? Does it even exist?

Many narratives about Africa are negative. They focus on hardship, poverty, and lost hope. I can only speak for my home, Ghana.

So, is Ghana any better? Have we escaped these negative narratives? As a young Ghanaian, I’m not so sure.

Ghana is a youthful nation. The 2021 Population and Housing Census shows that 38.2% of our population is under 15. Over 57% are under 25. This means more than half of us are young.

In theory, this should be an advantage for progress. If harnessed properly, this demographic shift could lead to economic growth.

But what is the Ghanaian dream? Is it similar to the American Dream described by James Truslow Adams in 1931? He envisioned a land where life is better for everyone based on ability or achievement.

Americans still believe in their dream. But do we have a version of that in Ghana?

I asked young people about their idea of the "Ghanaian Dream." Their responses were sobering.

Yes, we have big dreams. However, many do not see those dreams flourishing here. Our country has dusty roads and a broken education system. The healthcare system struggles too, and inequality runs deep after 68 years of independence.

For many of us, leaving feels like the only option. It’s not due to lack of patriotism but out of desperation for better opportunities.

What keeps us in despair? First is the unemployment crisis. The cost of living is high and access to credit is nearly impossible. Inflation eats away at our savings if we have any at all.

Even with university degrees, many cannot find sustainable jobs or inspiring work. We face underemployment or unemployment instead.

Secondly, there are few growth opportunities available to us. Education should include real-world skills and mentorship but lacks these elements.

People mention agencies like the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), but how many truly benefit from them? Most programs serve a privileged few while others struggle alone.

Another issue is growing distrust in leadership. Many African youth are losing faith in democratic governance according to Afrobarometer's report on Democratic Trends in Africa.

Some even view military rule as a temporary fix to civilian failures due to frustration with current systems.

Global exposure also plays a role in our despair. The internet shows us peers thriving abroad with supportive systems in place.

This desire for better lives leads many young Ghanaians to seek greener pastures elsewhere—doctors, engineers, nurses—all leaving for other countries.

Brain drain has become real; almost half of Ghana’s trained medical professionals work abroad now according to the World Bank.

In two decades, over 300,000 Ghanaians have left for North America and Europe alone. We lose talented individuals along with billions each year in investments and ideas.

Can any country develop when its youth must look elsewhere for survival? Definitely not!

This conversation about change is long overdue. We need to uproot systems that stifle young people's dreams and potential.

The next generation deserves more than slogans; they deserve support and opportunity right here at home.

As a young Ghanaian, I want to believe that the Ghanaian Dream exists—not just as fantasy but as reality rooted in our culture and pride.

The Ghanaian Dream should be real—and it should be ours!

Article by: Adwubi Wiafe Akenteng
Broadcast Journalist, Channel One TV/Citi FM
Email: [email protected]