Segment: 'Money is in Ghana But They Don't Want to Do the Dirty Job' - Why Young People Stay Jobless

Summary

Konnected Minds Podcast Episode Summary

Segment: “Money is in Ghana But They Don't Want to Do the Dirty Job” – Why Young People Stay Jobless
Host: Derrick Abaitey
Guest: Kingsley Opoku Sempe
Date: March 3, 2026

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Overview of the Episode's Main Theme

In this powerful episode, host Derrick Abaitey sits down with Kingsley Opoku Sempe, a young entrepreneur from Koforidua, Ghana, to explore the persistent issue of youth unemployment in Ghana. Through Kingsley’s personal journey from job-seeker to successful distributor, the conversation deeply examines the roots of joblessness, societal attitudes towards certain types of work, and what it takes to break free from mental and economic barriers. The central theme revolves around the idea that while opportunities for wealth exist locally, many young people, constrained by cultural and psychological limitations, hesitate to engage in so-called “dirty jobs,” missing out on viable pathways to success.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Systemic Challenge of Employment in Ghana

• Corruption and Nepotism in Recruitment Processes
  • Kingsley describes the Ghanaian job market as a “cartel,” where job interviews are often just formalities and selections are predetermined.
  • Notable Quote [00:00]:

    “The system in Ghana is not giving way for the average youth to think. Ghana’s recruitment is like a cartel. They already have someone they want to pick. They are just using this interview as a formality to know that they are doing something.” – Kingsley

2. The “Dirty Job” Stigma and Opportunity

• Missed Opportunities in Trade and Commerce
  • Money is available in Ghana, but often “locked in” or only accessible to those willing to do traditional market jobs regarded by youth as undesirable or beneath them.
  • Kingsley notes how market women regularly deal in large cash transactions, evidence of where real, tangible opportunities lie.
  • Notable Quote [00:40]:

    “Money is in Ghana, but it's in debt and the youth today does not want to do the dirty job. Go to Abu, so go to Kofrida market, Go to Makola. You actually see market to men who can buy goods worth of 100,000 and pay with physical cash.” – Kingsley

3. The Psychological Toll of Joblessness

• Depression and Disillusionment Among Graduates
  • Kingsley candidly speaks about his personal struggle with unemployment, including hitting a point of depression after unsuccessful job searches.
  • He highlights the bleak reality for his university peers—most end up leaving the country for work due to lack of local opportunities.
  • Notable Quote [01:07]:

    “This thing gets me too emotional. I actually got to a stage, I was really depressed. So I actually applied for companies for them to employ me. So many companies out of your peers,” – Kingsley

4. Kingsley’s Entrepreneurial Journey

• From Job Applicant to Business Owner
  • Despite setbacks, Kingsley pivoted to entrepreneurship, launching a distributorship and wholesale business in the Eastern region.
  • By leveraging his background in business administration and family exposure to trade, he built a successful operation, moving goods worth 1.5 million Ghana cedis in half a year.
  • Yet, he notes personal sacrifice—paying himself only a modest salary to reinvest in the business.
  • Notable Quote [00:28]:

    “From June to December, I sold goods worth of 1.5 million Ghana cities. I only pay myself 1500 a month. Why?” – Kingsley

5. Family, Upbringing, and Drive

• Resilience Rooted in Family Struggles
  • Kingsley’s story is grounded in humble beginnings: raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunties, navigating financial difficulties, and lacking paternal support.
  • His drive for self-reliance was shaped by a family culture of working hard and “pulling your own weight.”
• Key Moment [06:56]:
  > “You see, I actually grew up in a family where people just try to work their own things out. It's not like you are going to be provided with the essential help you need but also needs to pull your own weight.” – Kingsley

6. Lessons for Ghanaian Youth

• Actionable Advice and Mindset Shift
  • Kingsley’s message is clear: stop waiting for white-collar opportunities, embrace whatever “dirty jobs” the market offers, and don’t be afraid to start small.
  • He emphasizes the importance of leveraging skills, seeking mentorship, and daring to venture where others avoid.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Corruption in Hiring [00:00]:

  “Ghana’s recruitment is like a cartel. They already have someone they want to pick.” – Kingsley

• On Business Opportunity [00:40]:

  “Go to Kofrida market, Go to Makola. You actually see market to men who can buy goods worth of 100,000 and pay with physical cash.” – Kingsley

• On Emotional Impact of Unemployment [01:07]:

  “This thing gets me too emotional. I actually got to a stage, I was really depressed.” – Kingsley

• On Entrepreneurship [00:28]:

  “From June to December, I sold goods worth of 1.5 million Ghana cities. I only pay myself 1500 a month. Why?” – Kingsley

• On Family and Self-Reliance [06:56]:

  “I grew up in a family where people just try to work their own things out.” – Kingsley

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• 00:00 – 00:40: The systemic job market issues and “cartel” nature of recruitment in Ghana.
• 00:40 – 01:07: Discussing the perception of “dirty jobs” and how market traders handle large sums of cash.
• 01:07 – 01:28: Kingsley’s candid talk about depression and the emotional impact of fruitless job searches.
• 04:00 – 06:45: Kingsley’s family background and the values that shaped his work ethic.
• 07:56 – 08:45: Kingsley’s experiences in university, how he managed educational expenses, and family support.

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Summary Flow and Key Takeaways

• This episode serves as a candid examination of youth joblessness in Ghana, questioning ingrained attitudes toward work and challenging listeners to seek opportunity where it is commonly overlooked.
• Kingsley’s story offers a relatable blueprint for overcoming adversity, illustrating that entrepreneurial success is possible—even necessary—when traditional employment fails.
• Derrick Abaitey’s empathetic questioning and Kingsley’s down-to-earth honesty make for a practical, motivational listen for any young African, or indeed anyone, facing economic barriers.

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For listeners seeking actionable inspiration and real talk about wealth, hustle, and mindset shifts in Africa, this episode of Konnected Minds delivers both hard truths and hope.

Transcript

[A]

The system in Ghana is not giving way for the average youth to think. Ghana's recruitment is like a cartel. They already have someone they want to pick. They are just using this interview as a formality to know that they are doing something.

[B]

You know how to brand products, you know how to sell products and you identified a supplier. Then you look for people to buy.

[A]

That's what I can do.

[B]

Has your life, financial life actually improved?

[A]

From June to December, I sold goods worth of 1.5 million Ghana cities. I only pay myself 1500amonth. Why?

[B]

A lot of young people stacking, looking for a job mentality.

[A]

Money is in Ghana, but it's in debt and the youth today does not want to do the dirty job. Go to Abu, so go to Kofrida market, Go to Makola. You actually see market to men who can buy goods worth of 100,000 and pay with physical cash.

[B]

Young people finishing university looking for jobs and not getting jobs. How does it actually make a lot of the young people feel?

[A]

This thing gets me too emotional. I actually got to a stage, I was really depressed. So I actually applied for companies for them to employ me. So many companies out of your peers,

[B]

those that came out of university around the same time as you did, how many of them have actually gotten jobs?

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

You're welcome to Connected Minds Podcast. My name is Derek Abayte and thank you for being a listener and a viewer of our videos and supporting this beautiful family that we have. So did you know that on your phone you can search on Apple Podcast. You can also search on Spotify and any other application you use for music. Connected Minds. And listen to our podcast when you're driving, when you're going to work or when you're at the gym, even when you are cooking and you're busy, you can still listen to Connected Minds Podcast. My guest today is Kinsley Sempe. Now, Kinsley is a young businessman who is solving a problem in Koforidia and many parts of Eastern region. I call him the youngest distributor in Eastern region. A young man who is going to teach a lot of young people today how to start a small distributorship and also a wholesale business in Ghana. He's done it himself, a very young chap. I think you're really going to enjoy this conversation, especially if you are thinking of how to take products to people who need it and you don't know how to do it locally. He's your man. So sit through of how he was able to go from searching for jobs and not getting jobs and deciding that he is going to chart his own path and create a business out of it. And now he employs people. Welcome to my studios, my brother.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

How are you?

[A]

I'm fine. Awesome.

[B]

I'm happy to have you here because you've come all the way from. Yeah. My memories of Kofaridia growing up as a young boy was. It's the rich days where the regional hospital is.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So whenever we have problems in Kimoda, they send us to. They call it. So. That's right. That's right. We go to Kofaridia. Thanks for having you. The reason you are here today is because of a post you did.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You made a post on LinkedIn.

[A]

LinkedIn. Yes.

[B]

Where you described the business you are doing as a young person, how you're making money, the struggle of looking for jobs and not getting a job. And it clicked with you one day that you want to start your own business.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And you've done it.

[A]

Yes. 100.

[B]

Yeah. So congratulations to you. That's a great thing to do. Anyway, so let's start off. Talk me through your background before you teach us how to make money. Talk me through your background. So mom, dad, siblings, you know, your upbringing. Talk to me, how is home? Like.

[A]

Okay. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be on this podcast. I'm really grateful. I'm in the person of Kingsley Opokusimpe, a young entrepreneur in Kofridia. I'm actually from Eastern region.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

During my upbringing, I stayed with my grandmom, Lydia Mayal, My auntie Obama. She's actually a queen in New Jersey.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And my mom, Jacqueline Bimpong. I have one. One elderly brother, Richard Amel Bimpong. So starting life was just to flag home. Everyone was around, we used to play, we used to eat together, sleep together, and it was very nice.

[B]

Yeah. So you are probably one of the people a lot of Ghanaians might refer to as D.B.

[A]

oh, not really. No. Really?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Because D.B. how. How will you describe a D.B. someone who. Who.

[B]

Home was good. No. Right.

[A]

Home was naturally good because I had my grandmother and my auntie taking care of me, with me, most of my essential needs.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

My. My mom isn't that financially good. So she. You normally get help from her elderly sister and my grandmother. So I wouldn't describe that as a.

[B]

So what job did your mom.

[A]

My mom was she. She just have a store. He just as a shopkeeper or a business. We say a retailer.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yes, retailer.

[B]

Where was your dad in the picture?

[A]

My dad's story. Actually have no idea about where he Was.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I have no idea.

[B]

So you didn't grow up with your father?

[A]

No.

[B]

You grew up with just your mom?

[A]

I actually don't have memories of my father.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I. I can't remember.

[B]

You can't remember?

[A]

No. No, no, no. It's my mom, my auntie and my grandma.

[B]

So between mom and dad, is it just you?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Between your mom and dad, it's just.

[A]

Yes. Me? Yes.

[B]

Okay. But how many other siblings do you have?

[A]

I have one.

[B]

Okay. Older? Younger?

[A]

No. Older.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Okay. And then. Okay. From home that wasn't around aunties and grandma was taking care of you? Yes, mom was doing. She was a shopkeeper essentially. So these were the people that used to pay your school fees?

[A]

Yes. You see my. My grandma, my auntie was actually paying the fees whilst my mom was paying some small, small money. Like my. My. My breakfast, lunch, giving me pockets money all. And at times she buy books for me. But the. The main money, or let's say this, the. The money for tuition was actually coming from my auntie.

[B]

She did a fantastic job.

[A]

Fantastic.

[B]

I'm trying to figure out, which I think I will by the end of this conversation how you became so driven. What aspect of home has always driven you to try to do things by yourself?

[A]

You see, I actually grew up in a family where people just try to work their own things out. It's not like you are. You are going to be provided with the essential help you need but also needs to pull your own weight. So it got to a time when I was searching for jobs. I made some one or two calls to my aunties and other stuff that if they could help me secure a job. But today there's another story. We will get back to you. So I just said no, I actually need to work my own things. Because the man that was named after me, the Mr. Simpi, it was a big man in call. He had his own business and every simple. I know in Ghana here didn't work for someone.

[B]

Okay, before we get to that story, I want you to take me back again. Right to the point where aunties and grandma were taking care of you and you finished jhs?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Right. And then you carried on to university.

[A]

Yes, please.

[B]

Okay, now talk me through your university life.

[A]

My university life was not easy. You know, it got to a time the fees was to be paid by my auntie, which she did. But the hostel was an issue.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So we were. They are actually finding a way to get me to the hostel. But it was not successful. So Monty actually had a friend in Ashalabotri ashalabotra near the St. Peter's School auntie Stella so I had to go and sleep in Auntie Stella's hall for three years to complete my university so in the style of accommodation it was not easy because you actually sharing accommodation with the three people. Yeah yes it was not that easy so but an aspect of the fee side and everything it was good.

[B]

So Kinsley has now finished university when you were at university actually what were your plans in terms of job plans?

[A]

When I was university I, I was lucky to do business administration because I, I actually got the inspiration for my family business My grandmother's sister who is there she died in 2016 was a distributor for a big company in Ghana here No for three companies in Ghana here most of them were manufacturing fast moving consumer goods fmgs so anytime I go on vacation I just try to go there just to learn something Connected minds podcast.