28/08/2026
THIS IS MORE THAN A CRIME PROBLEM - IT IS A HUMAN PROBLEM.
I saw a report about a young boy who allegedly killed his mother, and the reporter attributed it to w**d. But I believe we need to look deeper than that.
Many young people in Ghana are frustrated. Some have no jobs, some have no formal certificates, some have broken families, and many have nowhere to turn.
I have met young men without certificates who can do practical work better than some people with certificates.
I run a construction company, and whenever I get work in a town, I don't always go with all my workers.
I deliberately go into the ghetto and drinking-bar areas and look for young people who are willing to work.
I tell them why I am there, how many workers I need, and that they too can benefit. I pay them equally for the work they do.
Now think about this:
A young man who normally wakes up, sits around, smokes w**d or drinks from morning until evening suddenly gets a job.
He reports at 8:00am, breaks at 12:00pm, returns at 1:00pm, and closes at 5:00pm.
Ask yourself: Does he still have the same amount of time to sit in the ghetto as before?
My rule is simple: No smoking at my work site.
And something happens when you start talking to these young people.
You begin to understand that behind some of the behaviour we condemn, there is a human being who is struggling.
I have met young people who simply needed someone to believe in them.
I once met a hardworking young man who told me he didn't even know his family. He grew up without knowing who his relatives were. The ghetto was the only place where he felt he belonged.
But when he started working with me, he told me that before the job ended, he wanted to save some money, rent a room and learn a trade.
When I heard his dream, I immediately spoke to my steel benders and asked them to allow him to join them and learn the work.
That training could take about six months.
I even gave him my workers' room, which had already been rented for a year, so he could have somewhere to stay. Sometimes I called to check on him and sent him something when I could.
One day, he called me with good news:
"Boss, I have got work and paid.
That moment meant more to me than money.
This is why I believe government, businesses, communities and individuals must start thinking seriously about our young people.
Not every troubled person needs condemnation. Some need work. Some need mentorship. Some need skills. Some need capital. Some simply need someone to tell them,
"I believe you can become something."
And yes, drug abuse and alcohol abuse must be addressed. Crime must be punished. But prevention must also be taken seriously.
Give a young person purpose before you blame him for losing hope.
Create jobs. Support apprenticeships. Develop vocational training. Help young people start small businesses. Go into the ghettos and speak to them instead of only talking about them.
Because sometimes, the difference between a young man becoming a criminal and becoming a skilled worker is simply one opportunity.
If we genuinely want to reduce crime, killng, drug abuse and hopelessness among our youth, let's stop asking only,
"What's wrong with these young people?"
Let's also ask:
"What have we done to give them hope?"
(YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT, DON'T DESTROY IT.)
Stay away from bad habits, drugs, violence and crime. Focus on learning a skill, working hard and building your future.
Because if you refuse to change, two things may eventually happen:
you could lose your life, or you could lose your freedom in prison.
You still have time to choose a better path.
Choose life. Choose freedom. Choose your future.🙏
