The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South, Hon. Felicia Adjei, has called on Parliament and the Executive to fast-track the passage of the Ghana Startup Bill as a critical step toward addressing the country’s growing youth unemployment crisis.
In a statement delivered on the floor of Parliament on Friday, July 11, Hon. Adjei said the lack of job opportunities is driving many young Ghanaians—especially in rural constituencies like hers—into dangerous migration routes in search of better livelihoods abroad.
“Many of our young people are not leaving because they want to, but because they feel they have no viable options here.
We continue to lose some of our brightest minds, who could otherwise contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development,” she said.
The lawmaker emphasized the need for a unified and robust support system for young entrepreneurs.
She pointed out that while existing programs like the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) and MASLOC have helped in some areas, they remain scattered and insufficient to meet the scale of the challenge.
“Our system does not adequately support young people to start and grow successful businesses.
That is why I’m urging us to do more—to build a supportive environment where youth-led startups can thrive,” she noted.
She highlighted the Ghana Startup Bill, under review since 2020, as a key solution.
According to her, the bill would provide a legal framework to strengthen the startup ecosystem, improve access to financing and training, and streamline the process of establishing new businesses.
Specifically, the Startup Act would:
-
Simplify the registration and operational processes for startups
-
Provide easier access to funding and training
-
Protect intellectual property
-
Promote collaboration among stakeholders
-
Harmonize all existing youth entrepreneurship initiatives
Drawing from examples in other African countries, Hon. Adjei cited Nigeria and Kenya, which have both implemented startup legislation to boost innovation and empower their youth.
She argued that Ghana risks falling behind if it does not take similar action.
“I urge all Members of Parliament to rally behind this bill.
Let us prioritize the hopes and dreams of Ghanaian youth and give them a future to believe in,” she concluded.
Story By: Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
About The Author
