The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has sounded a warning over Ghana’s rising unemployment, describing the situation as a major wake-up call that demands urgent policy action.
The scale of joblessness among the youth, he stated, poses both economic and security risks if not addressed swiftly.
He gave the warning during a high-level engagement between parliamentary leadership and officials of the World Bank Group led by Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, last week.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin described Ghana’s unemployment situation as alarming.
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Citing overwhelming interest in recent security service recruitment, the Minority Leader revealed that more than 500,000 young people applied for limited positions—an indication of deepening unemployment pressures.
“For me, it’s a major wake-up call,” he stressed, adding that the overwhelming response reflects the desperation among Ghanaian youth for stable employment.
He warned that failure to act decisively could escalate social tensions.
“The youth are frustrated out there… and if care is not taken, the threat may be sooner than we think,” he cautioned.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin urged both government and development partners to refocus national priorities on sustainable job creation, particularly through skills development and entrepreneurship.
He emphasized that while Ghana has made strides in expanding access to education, the country must now align its training systems with the demands of the job market.
“In terms of education, we are doing well… but the real challenge now is creating opportunities for those coming out of the system,” he noted.
The Minority Leader welcomed the World Bank’s continued support for Ghana’s development agenda, especially initiatives aimed at strengthening economic governance and parliamentary oversight.
He expressed confidence that the Bank’s engagement could help drive policies that directly address unemployment and economic inclusion.
“The focus on building skills and creating jobs is in the right direction,” he said.
Despite being in the minority in Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin reiterated his Caucus’ commitment to supporting policies that promote national development.
“Our focus is not to obstruct… our focus is to be constructive,” he said, assuring that the Minority would back job-creation initiatives brought before Parliament.
He called for a united national approach to tackling unemployment, urging political leaders to rise above partisanship.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin stressed the importance of empowering young people with practical skills and opportunities to thrive.
He noted that without deliberate interventions, the growing number of unemployed youth could undermine Ghana’s long-term stability.