Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has urged traditional authorities to support the government’s proposed economic transformation agenda, warning that temporary employment schemes cannot provide a lasting answer to Ghana’s youth unemployment crisis.
Dr Forson said programmes including the National Builders Corps (NABCO) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) could offer short-term work and valuable experience, but would not resolve the deeper structural problems facing the labour market.
He said Ghana needed to move towards a production-driven economy that could create sustainable jobs, raise incomes and absorb its growing workforce.
Speaking to the National House of Chiefs ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget on November 12, the Finance Minister said the country’s population had grown by approximately 16 million since 2001, while job creation had failed to keep pace.
Although access to education had expanded and more young people were being trained, Dr Forson said the economy had not produced enough productive employment opportunities for them.
“Our population has grown faster than the opportunities available to many of our young people, unfortunately. Their future cannot depend on moving from one temporary opportunity to the next,” he said.
He also criticised an economic model in which Ghana exports raw materials with limited processing while importing finished goods that could be produced domestically.
The government’s proposed four-year New Economy programme, he said, was designed to change that pattern by increasing domestic production, adding value to the country’s natural resources and creating long-term employment.
Dr Forson called for Ghanaian businesses to expand production, reach larger markets and employ more people. He said the private sector should lead job creation, with government providing investment and an enabling environment for businesses to grow.
The Finance Minister warned that failing to tackle youth unemployment could threaten national stability.
“If we fail to act, today’s employment challenge could grow into explosive social crises. We must act now to turn our youth’s ability into production and turn hope into opportunity for our young people,” he said.
He assured the traditional leaders that the government would continue to observe fiscal discipline and ensure value for money in public spending.
Dr Forson also asked the National House of Chiefs to make the New Economy agenda a national priority, saying traditional authorities had a key role in mobilising communities behind the transformation programme.
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahorhor Yaw Gyebi II, praised the government’s efforts to stabilise the economy but urged the Finance Minister to give greater priority to youth employment in the upcoming budget.
“So far, so good. Our expectation is the next budget will factor is sustainable jobs for the youth to further expand the economy,” he said.
Ogyeahorhor Yaw Gyebi II also asked for financial support to help chiefs intervene early in chieftaincy disputes, preventing them from developing into wider security threats.
“Adequately resourcing traditional institutions could reduce the financial burden on security agencies by allowing chiefs to help resolve emerging conflicts before they become uncontrollable”.
Dr Forson said the 2027 Budget was still being prepared and assured the chiefs that their recommendations would be considered as the government finalised its spending priorities.
The meeting formed part of the government’s effort to build broader stakeholder support for its proposed economic transformation agenda.
