Approximately 400 first and second-year students at Wa Senior High School in the Upper West Region recently participated in the inaugural GhanaThink Junior Camp. The event, held on [Date – specify if known, otherwise omit or generalize, e.g., ‘recently’], featured professionals from diverse fields such as law, medicine, arts, tourism, entrepreneurship, higher education, and media, who guided students in making deliberate career choices and leveraging mentorship opportunities.
Bridging the Gap Between Education and Career
The GhanaThink Junior Camp program aims to establish crucial connections between current secondary school students and experienced mentors. Through interactive group sessions, networking opportunities, and dedicated question-and-answer periods, the camp provides a platform for students to explore various professional paths.
Ramla Yahaya, Team Lead for Junior Camp and a representative of Great Wasec, explained the program’s design. “Junior Camp is here to bring mentors from different career paths – from art to law to medicine, to nursing, you name it,” she stated during the opening ceremony.
Yahaya emphasized the value of the event for the students. “Any career you are interested in pursuing after SHS, we have mentors here who will take you through group mentorship sessions. You’ll have the opportunity to network with them and ask as many questions as possible.” She encouraged the over 400 attendees, representing a portion of the school’s 1,700 Form 1 and Form 2 students, to come prepared with inquiries.
Guidance for Future Success
Professionals shared insights into their respective fields and the importance of informed decision-making. Syeduo Bomanjo, a journalist with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Upper West, stressed that current choices significantly influence future outcomes.
“The choice you make today will indeed decide what you become in the future,” Bomanjo told the students. He cautioned against selecting careers based on ease or convenience, warning that such decisions could lead to lifelong regret.
Abdul Aziz Pelpuo, a professional tour guide and national executive member of the Tour Guides Association of Ghana, highlighted the economic significance of tourism. “Today, we shall be talking about an industry that I will call the most important part of Ghana’s economy because it has ripple or multiplier effects. Tourism affects every other sector of the economy,” he explained.
Pelpuo, an alumnus of Wa SHS, shared that his own career journey began during his student days at the institution 23 years prior. He urged students to consider careers in travel, tourism, and hospitality.
Empowering Youth Through Mentorship and Models
The Wilma Youth Club, a partner in organizing the camp, operates under the LEAM model: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Advocacy, and Mentorship. Josephine Naab, President of the club, elaborated on this framework.
“Education should be prioritised. If you educate yourself and go out there, you bring more opportunities to your immediate community,” Naab stated, underscoring the club’s commitment to local development over migration.
The club actively shares information on scholarships and other opportunities via a WhatsApp channel, aiming to ensure that no young person is overlooked.
Diverse Professional Voices
Students interested in the medical field received guidance from Dr. Eunice Wulimiga Bangniyel. She expressed her privilege in mentoring those aspiring to careers in medicine and allied health professions, including nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, and physician assistant roles.
Juana Fynn-Wills Pipson, a lawyer with the Office of the Attorney General’s Department, introduced her multifaceted background as a lawyer, former banker, entrepreneur, and women’s advocate. She noted a particular passion for mentoring young girls.
Gias Daudi, a law lecturer at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (UBIDS) School of Law, addressed common stereotypes surrounding the legal profession. He aimed to dispel misconceptions and provide a clearer understanding of what it means to be a lawyer.
Looking Ahead
The GhanaThink Junior Camp initiative represents a vital step in equipping Ghana’s youth with the knowledge and connections needed to navigate their post-secondary education and career choices. The program’s success at Wa SHS suggests a potential for expansion to other educational institutions across the country.
Future iterations of the camp will likely focus on deepening engagement with mentors, potentially incorporating longer-term mentorship relationships and follow-up sessions. The emphasis on practical advice and real-world insights positions the Junior Camp as a significant resource for shaping the next generation of Ghanaian professionals.
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