Underdevelopment forcing youth to abandon Wasai Community

Persistent underdevelopment, widespread unemployment, and lack of digital access are pushing the youth of Wasai, a farming community in the Sissala West District, to abandon their hometown in search of better opportunities.

Despite national policies aimed at bridging the rural-urban gap, residents say neglect by successive governments continues to erode the future of the community.

At a press conference, the Chief of Wasai, through a statement delivered by Abdul Rahman Dauda Kuntulo, outlined several pressing challenges, including poor roads, limited job opportunities, and weak digital infrastructure. He described the state of roads as “a serious impediment to socio-economic advancement.”

“As citizens of Ghana, we recognise that good roads play a critical role in accelerating socio-economic development. We are calling on the government, particularly the Regional Feeder Roads Department, to come to our aid,” the chief appealed.

Key roads identified include the Wasai–Oulokung–Oulo, Wasai–Du, and Wasai–Papreme roads. The community is also calling for a bridge near the Oulo-Wasai junction to enhance inter-community trade and movement.

Youth speak out

The youth, many of them educated, say they are being forced to return to subsistence farming due to a lack of white-collar job opportunities.

“Our parents supported us through school, many of us now have degrees, but we’ve returned home jobless,” said Torra Salubuo Samuel, a university graduate. “If you’re not aligned with a political party, you’re overlooked. It’s like our education was for nothing.”

The frustration contradicts key policy goals set out in Ghana’s Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2022–2025) and National Youth Policy (2010), which promote equitable job creation and infrastructure development.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s 2023 Labor Force Survey, the Upper West Region continues to experience high youth unemployment and weak economic diversification.

Digital exclusion further compounds the situation. Wasinbensu Abdul Waasiu lamented the poor mobile network coverage, saying, “This is a digital age, but our network is so bad we can’t even engage in online work or learning.”

Agriculture under strain

With limited access to digital jobs and formal employment, youth are turning to farming—but even that is unsustainable. High input costs, limited access to subsidies, and rising tractor service fees undermine the benefits of government initiatives like Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ).

Bad roads also hinder farmers from transporting their produce, cutting them off from major markets and stifling trade between communities.

Research by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in 2023 found that over 4,000 rural communities across Ghana lack access to basic infrastructure like roads, potable water, and ICT services. These deficiencies persist despite national strategies such as the Ghana Infrastructure Plan (2018–2047) and Agenda for Jobs II (2022–2025).

The chief of Wasai further invoked Article 36(2)(d) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates fair distribution of national development resources, calling the neglect a breach of constitutional obligations.

Deforestation and climate stress

The community also raised environmental concerns, linking deforestation to growing economic hardship. Babine Sampson, a local farmer, explained that economic need is forcing residents, particularly women, to cut down trees during the dry season to make ends meet.

“Sometimes they wake up and go cut trees just to earn enough to buy soap or food,” he said.

Rainfall patterns in the area have become unpredictable. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the claim, attributing drought spells in northern Ghana to deforestation and localised climate change.

The chief urged elders to protect vital tree species like the shea tree and ensure replanting efforts are prioritised.

Call for urgent support

The community is appealing to the Department of Feeder Roads, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation for targeted interventions.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the chief called for four new classroom blocks at the basic education level, and for youth inclusion in entrepreneurship programmes such as the YouStart Initiative.

The appeal aligns with Ghana’s Education Strategic Plan (2018–2030) and the Jobs and Skills Project, which focus on expanding school infrastructure and equipping young people with practical skills.

Report by Alhassan Tajudeen for Asaase News in the Upper West Region

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