The Ghana Career and Migration Fair 2024 was officially held in Kumasi on Wednesday,16th October, 2024.
It marked another milestone in the ongoing efforts to address youth unemployment and underemployment in Ghana.
Organized by the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the two-day event offered a unique platform for job seekers, entrepreneurs, and businesses to connect with over 60 recruiters, companies, and international organizations from
Europe and Ghana.
Now in its seventh edition, the event has grown into a vital resource for the Ghanaian labour market, providing participants with direct access to employment opportunities, skills development, and educational pathways.
Participants of the event benefited from insightful panel discussions and breakout sessions that explore emerging trends in the global labour market, including the development potential of migration and entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Andreas Berding, Head of the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development reiterated the importance of the event.
“We’ve created a space where meaningful connections can happen—whether it’s a young graduate looking for their first job, or a company seeking the skilled labour it needs to thrive.
Also addressing international career and education opportunities, we want to not only show opportunities for job seekers, but to underline the development-oriented approach to migration of the German Cooperation and the European Union —one that benefits both Ghana and its international partners.”
This year’s fair also placed a strong emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), introducing alternative career paths to participants and promoting hands-on skills as key to economic empowerment.
With experts from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Campus France, and Erasmus+ on hand, students and professionals alike explored the wealth of educational opportunities across Europe, gaining insights into how to access world-class education and further their careers internationally.
Commenting on the fair’s broader significance, Dr. Festus Awuah Kwofie. Deputy Minister, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, remarked, “Government acknowledges the importance of employment and that is why the focus has been on coordinating diverse interventions to promote skills development and employment.
Promoting regular, safe and orderly labour migration is one of the pathways that has emerged as an opportunity to support the government’s job creation agenda.
However, to effectively benefit from labour migration, it must be well-managed.
We must understand the labour demands in Germany, Europe, and parts of Africa, and hope that by working together, we can provide opportunities to the teeming youth.”
As Ghana faces the challenge of youth unemployment, affecting over 1.3 million young people aged 15 to 35, the Ghana Career and Migration Fair 2024 took on even greater significance.
The event succeded in empowering vulnerable groups, including women and persons with disabilities, and raised awareness of global labour market requirements and fair recruitment practices.
Since its inception in 2018, the fair has evolved into a platform for connecting job seekers with employers, promoting skills development, and fostering entrepreneurship.
With over 19,000 participants across its six previous editions, the event has directly resulted in 1,277 jobs, including 521 positions secured by women.
450 exhibitors have participated, presenting 1,855 job vacancies.
The fair was organized in partnership with the Labour Department, Youth Employment Agency, Wealth and Jobs Agency, and the Delegation of German Industry in Ghana.
It offered a variety of opportunities to learn, network, and explore paths to success in an increasingly interconnected world.
