Tackling youth unemployment is gov’t’s central focus now – Finance Minister

Government Makes Youth Employment Central to Next Phase of Economic Reforms – Finance Minister

The Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has announced that tackling youth unemployment will be the government’s central priority as Ghana enters the next phase of its economic reform agenda.

According to the minister, the government is shifting its focus toward job creation after spending the past year working to stabilise the country’s economy and restore fiscal discipline.

Dr. Forson made the remarks in Accra after a meeting with Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank Group. The meeting focused on Ghana’s economic recovery efforts and potential areas of collaboration between the government and the global financial institution.

Speaking to the media, the Finance Minister explained that the administration led by John Dramani Mahama is now prioritising policies that will create employment opportunities, particularly for young people, who make up a large portion of the country’s population.

He indicated that the government’s initial focus since assuming office had been on resetting the country’s financial position, strengthening economic management, and restoring confidence in the economy. According to him, those efforts were necessary to lay the foundation for the next stage of development.

“With the economy gradually stabilising, the government is now turning its attention to the critical issue of job creation,” Dr. Forson stated.

He stressed that unemployment among young people remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges facing the country. With thousands of graduates entering the labour market each year, the demand for jobs continues to rise.

Dr. Forson noted that the public sector alone cannot absorb the growing number of young job seekers, making it essential for the government to focus on strengthening the private sector.

“The reality is that government employment opportunities are limited. The private sector must therefore play a central role in creating sustainable jobs for our young people,” he said.

To address the challenge, the government is developing and implementing a range of policies aimed at stimulating private sector growth, encouraging entrepreneurship, and attracting investment into key sectors of the economy.

These initiatives, according to the Finance Minister, are expected to support business expansion, increase productivity, and generate employment opportunities across different industries.

He further indicated that the government is working to create an enabling environment that will allow businesses to thrive. This includes improving access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening infrastructure, and implementing policies that promote innovation and industrial growth.

Dr. Forson also highlighted the importance of partnerships with international development institutions in supporting Ghana’s economic transformation agenda.

In this regard, the World Bank Group has expressed its readiness to assist Ghana in addressing youth unemployment and promoting economic growth.

One of the key initiatives expected from this collaboration is a Jobs and Growth Analysis, which will examine Ghana’s economic structure and identify sectors with strong potential for job creation and expansion.

The analysis will provide insights into areas where investments and policy reforms could generate significant employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

According to the Finance Minister, the findings of the study will help guide government policy decisions and ensure that economic reforms translate into tangible benefits for citizens.

He emphasised that addressing youth unemployment is not only an economic priority but also a national development imperative.

“Youth employment is central to Ghana’s long-term growth and stability. Creating opportunities for young people is critical to building a resilient and inclusive economy,” Dr. Forson stated.

The government believes that by promoting private sector development, strengthening partnerships with international institutions, and implementing targeted employment policies, Ghana can make significant progress in reducing youth unemployment while sustaining economic recovery.

The renewed focus on job creation is expected to shape the government’s economic agenda in the coming years as it seeks to ensure that economic growth translates into improved livelihoods and opportunities for the country’s young population.