The author of Retire Before 40, Shadrack Akrofi-Quarcoo is leading a campaign to change the destiny of the youth within the next 30 years in the country.
To this end, he has authored the book which serves a guide to enable his project team to embark on the ambitious campaign.
Mr Akrofi-Quarcoo told African Eye Report at the launch of his maiden book at the University of Ghana that the level of despondency among the youth had triggered him to embark on the change mission campaign.
“The book was written to call the attention of the powers that be to focus on the challenges confronting the youth”.
“We can’t remain the same. Things have to be changed. So, for the sake of our young people, we must take a stand”, he stated. “Let’s compound our powers to change the course of our generation”, Mr Akrofi-Quarcoo stressed.
Speaking at the launch of the book which comprises his working life, personal life experience among others, he reminded Ghanaians to take the investments in the youth very serious because such investments are long term while investments in infrastructure are short term.
On why the non-fiction book titled ‘Retire Before 40’, Mr Akrofi-Quarcoo explained: “There is a time in our lives where we should leave the bad behaviours and unnecessary things behind” and change for the better.
In his keynote message, Prince Oduro Williams, Executive Director of African Rights Initiative, an NGO, added: “The book is also telling us that we can’t live our lives in a vacuum. Something must trigger us”.
He lamented: “Our society is not getting better. Therefore, the book-retire before 40 is being launched at the right time to change the mindsets of our society”.
With all the sources we have, it looks like we are not capable of managing our own affairs as Ghanaians and Africans, Mr Williams stated.
“For 60 years, we keep blaming our colonial masters for our underdevelopment. We need to stop this blame game and rise up to change the direction of the country”.
He however maintained that before a breakthrough could take place, Ghanaians needed to change their mindset.
Launching the book, Dr Sarah Akrofi-Quarcoo, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Communications of the University of Ghana, urged the youth to take advantage of the information age to do great things for themselves.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
