Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Professor Alex Dodoo, has urged graduate students of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) to unleash their entrepreneurial potentials to create jobs for themselves and others.
He says students can unleash their full potential by being creative and innovative in their thinking, while exploring opportunities around them.
Prof. Dodoo gave the advice in a keynote address at the 2023 Graduate Practitioner’s Forum organised by the UPSA School of Graduate Studies.
Speaking on the theme “Unleashing Ghana’s potential for massive job and wealth creation using standardisation and the AfCFTA,” Prof Dodoo acknowledged that the state has failed in its efforts to create ample jobs to meet the high number of graduates being churned out by various tertiary institutions.
He said this has led to a high unemployment rate in the country, calling for graduates who are trained and equipped with the right skillsets and a transformative mindset to turn things around.
“You do have the potential to transform Ghana,” Prof Dodoo told the students. “Indeed, you have the power to make and build this country. It all boils down to knowing your worth.
“Going to school is hard, so you must [make] value out of it so that you will enjoy the work you do. Trying to work cheap and cut corners is cheating yourself and cheating your clients.”
In highlighting the importance of standardisation to job creation, Prof Dodoo, who is also the President of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) said standards play a vital role in trade and job creation in Africa.
He stressed that by adhering to standards, businesses can enhance their competitiveness, access new markets, drive economic growth, and create job opportunities.
“If there are no standards, there will be no trade. If there is no trade, there will be no economy. And if there is no economy, there is no jobs,” he said.
“So you can jump to the conclusion that if there are no standards, there will be no jobs because without standards, you cannot trade; without trading in goods and services, you cannot have an economy; and without an economy, you cannot have a job, but sadly, we often overlook the importance and value of standards, and yet most of us expect standardised treatments, and that [mindset] must change.”
Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Prof Samuel Antwi, said the Practitioner’s Forum provides an important platform for final-year students to interact with captains of industry.
He said the annual event aims to equip students with additional knowledge and assess their ability to apply knowledge gained through their course of study in industry situations.
“We see this forum as an opportunity for our final-year students to be exposed to practical knowledge to enable them to function well and add value to their chosen fields of endeavour,” Prof Antwi said.
“It is our honest expectation that as our students interact with and learn from the best of industry, who will be speaking on relevant topics from their respective fields of expertise as well as the demands of industry, they will be inspired to make a difference in their chosen careers.”
