A governance and public policy expert has raised concerns that Ghana does not currently have a well structured national strategy focused specifically on creating jobs for the country’s growing workforce.
Professor Enoch Opoku-Antwi, a governance expert and public policy analyst, believes that although various policies have been introduced over the years, there is still no deliberate and coordinated national plan aimed at addressing unemployment in a sustainable way.
According to him, the absence of a clear strategy has contributed to persistent unemployment challenges, especially among young people entering the labour market each year. He noted that job creation requires intentional planning that aligns economic policies, education, and industry development.
Prof Opoku-Antwi explained that many existing programmes appear fragmented and often focus on short term interventions rather than long term employment solutions. In his view, Ghana needs a comprehensive national framework that clearly outlines how jobs will be created across key sectors of the economy.
He further emphasised that sustainable job creation should involve deliberate investments in sectors with strong employment potential, including manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. These sectors, he said, have the capacity to absorb large numbers of young graduates and skilled workers if properly developed.
The governance expert also highlighted the importance of policy consistency and collaboration between government, the private sector, and educational institutions. According to him, stronger partnerships could help align training programmes with the skills required by industries, ensuring that graduates are better prepared for available opportunities.
He stressed that without a well coordinated national strategy, the country risks continuing cycles of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among the youth population.
Prof Opoku-Antwi therefore called for policymakers to prioritise the development of a deliberate job creation agenda that focuses on economic expansion, skills development, and private sector growth.
He believes that such a strategy would not only address unemployment but also strengthen Ghana’s long term economic stability.
