Start small, dream big: Ridge Royal MD's career lesson for Ghana's graduates

Sheila Adjetey-Anum, Managing Director of Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast, has challenged Ghana's recent graduates to abandon the expectation of landing senior management roles immediately after leaving university. Speaking at the iNTTA Expo in Cape Coast, she urged young professionals to embrace entry-level positions as stepping stones to long-term career success, emphasising that practical experience combined with academic qualifications is the true path to earning meaningful salaries.

The candid advice comes at a time when many Ghanaian graduates struggle to find employment, and those who do often harbour unrealistic expectations about starting salaries and positions. Adjetey-Anum's own journey exemplifies her message: despite holding a degree, she began her hospitality career as a housekeeping attendant and has spent approximately 20 years climbing the ranks to her current position as managing director, having overseen multiple hotel operations along the way.

The Reality Check Graduates Need to Hear

Adjetey-Anum directly challenged the prevailing mindset among fresh graduates, questioning the logic behind expecting five-figure monthly salaries without demonstrating workplace value. She posed a pointed question to young job seekers: "What are you bringing to the table?" beyond your degree certificate. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration among employers across Ghana's hospitality and tourism sectors, who report that many new employees prioritise immediate financial rewards over skill development and professional growth.

Her message resonates particularly in the tourism and hospitality industries, where entry-level positions—from front-desk staff to housekeeping—are often the gateway to supervisory and management roles. By starting at the foundation level, graduates gain irreplaceable hands-on knowledge about customer service, operational efficiency and industry dynamics that no classroom can fully teach.

Why This Matters for Ghana's Job Market

Ghana's unemployment challenge, particularly among graduates, demands a cultural shift in how young professionals approach their careers. The hospitality and tourism sectors remain critical engines for economic growth and employment creation, yet many vacancies go unfilled because candidates reject positions they perceive as beneath their educational status. Adjetey-Anum's intervention highlights a critical disconnect: employers need workers willing to start modestly and develop professionally, while graduates need to understand that a degree is a foundation, not a guarantee of immediate seniority.

Her emphasis on combining education with work experience directly addresses Ghana's skills gap. Many employers report that graduates lack practical competencies despite their qualifications. By encouraging young people to invest time in learning through real-world roles, Adjetey-Anum is advocating for a model that could simultaneously reduce graduate unemployment and improve the quality of Ghana's workforce.

The iNTTA Expo, which hosted her remarks, underscores the broader push to expand Ghana's tourism industry as an economic pillar. As tourism stakeholders, investors and business leaders gathered to explore opportunities in hospitality, energy infrastructure, agribusiness and health tourism, the message from industry veterans like Adjetey-Anum carries particular weight: the sector's growth depends on professionals who are willing to grow with it.

Adjetey-Anum concluded her advice with encouragement for patience and financial discipline. "Hard work always pays," she said, acknowledging that while smart strategies matter in modern careers, dedication remains non-negotiable. For Ghana's graduate population navigating an increasingly competitive job market, this is a timely reminder that career ambitions are best achieved through realistic expectations, continuous learning and a willingness to start from the ground up.