Sierra Leone: Economic growth is the only solution to unemployment: Officials

major challenge for Sierra Leone until the government addresses the economy, Mr. Anthony Koroma, chairman of the National Youth Commission.

Mr. Koroma said the high rate of graduates annually, estimated at some 10, 000, thanks to a proliferation of colleges and universities across the country, was bound to make the situation even more difficult.

“The only way of addressing this problem is for the government to create the proper environment for economic growth and that will see more employment opportunities,” Koroma said.

Updated figures are hard to come by but various sources have put the rate of youth unemployment in the country at 70 per cent. Yet the segment of the population comprises over 60 percent.

Many of the youths barely attain high school education, which situation has been blamed for a rise in the crime rate.