The Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has challenged Ghanaian students to uphold their cultural heritage, embrace integrity, and lead the charge in innovation to address the country’s growing unemployment crisis.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony of the Ashanti Students’ Union (ASU) at the University of Ghana, Hon Afenyo Markin rejected the idea that African culture conflicts with Christianity. “All we have is our tradition and our culture, and I shall forever cherish the culture I was born into. You must also be proud of your culture as Ashantis,” he told the gathering.
He paid tribute to the late Queen Mother of Asanteman, describing her as “a great baobab tree” whose legacy would endure for generations, and extended condolences to the Asantehene and the royal family.
Turning to national issues, the Minority Leader described youth unemployment as a “national security threat,” noting that one in four young Ghanaians is jobless while 70% of workers remain in the informal sector. He criticized government for abandoning the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme which the Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo’s led government started and was doing well, Afenyo Markin also expressed displeasure on the government blocking tax waivers that, he argued, could have created jobs.
He also decried poor repayment of state loans, warning that “when we take and do not give back, we steal not just money, but hope from those who come after us.”
On technology, he urged students to see themselves as “Ghana’s secret weapons in the global knowledge economy,” stressing that their innovations could transform the nation.
Reflecting on the event’s theme, “Igniting Asante Spirit: Striving for Development in All Spheres,” he said the resilience and unity of the Ashanti Kingdom must inspire Ghana’s future.
“The Asante spirit is not the preserve of a particular people. It is an invitation to all of us to channel the virtues of our heritage into purposeful action for national development,” he concluded.
Story by Sheila Otuo-Baffour