Director of Advocate for Youth Africa, Cletus Asare, who has encouraged young Ghanaians to conduct a personal SWOT analysis as they make decisions about their future.
Speaking on Shouts on Y, hosted by AJ the Hottest, Mr Asare said young people must first understand themselves before deciding where they want to go.
He encouraged them to take a pen, laptop or any available tool and honestly write down their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
According to him, the exercise can help young people identify what they are naturally good at, recognise areas that need improvement and gain a clearer understanding of the career paths available to them.
“Identify where your strength is. Chase what you’re good at, and do it well,” he advised.
Mr Asare stressed that recognising one’s weaknesses should not be a source of embarrassment. Rather, he said, weaknesses are areas that can be worked on and improved with time and effort.
His advice comes at a time when many young people are navigating career choices, peer pressure and the rapidly changing demands of the job market.
Beyond self-awareness, Mr Asare urged young people to take advantage of technology and use the digital tools available to them to create their own opportunities.
He emphasised the importance of focus and resilience, particularly for young people pursuing careers where mistakes and setbacks are inevitable.
“If you’re programming, you’ll make mistakes. You can fail a hundred times but you need to keep going,” he said.
Mr Asare also encouraged young people to have a clear purpose, make plans before starting any venture, think ahead and be patient with the process.
He cautioned young people against allowing peer pressure to determine their choices, urging them instead to remain true to themselves and pursue areas that match their strengths.
He also appealed to parents to support their children’s dreams and give them the freedom to pursue careers and ambitions that align with their abilities.
Mr Asare described Ghana’s young population as a major national asset, but warned that failing to properly harness the potential of young people could create serious challenges.
“Young people are today and the future,” he said.
His comments come amid Ghana’s commemoration of International Youth Day, with discussions around how young people can better prepare themselves to take advantage of opportunities in technology, education, entrepreneurship and the wider economy.
By: Sakina Mustapha