Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has raised an alarm over the worsening state of youth unemployment in Ghana.
He argued that existing government interventions have yet to deliver the scale of jobs needed to address the growing crisis.
Delivering a statement on the floor of Parliament, the former Information Minister cited data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), showing that youth unemployment continues to rise despite a series of job creation initiatives introduced by the government.
According to him, unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 increased from 32 percent in December 2024 to 32.5 percent by the third quarter of 2025. In Greater Accra, the situation is even more difficult, with youth unemployment reaching 49.3 percent.
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“Nearly one in every two young people in our capital region is unemployed,” Oppong Nkrumah told Parliament.
He revealed that seven out of every ten unemployed persons in Ghana are below the age of 35, highlighting the disproportionate burden young people bear in the labour market.
The MP noted that the GSS classifies about 1.34 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 as Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). Applying Ghana’s National Youth Policy definition, which extends youth status to age 35, the figure rises to nearly 1.95 million people.
“Nearly two million young Ghanaians are neither earning nor learning,” he stated.
Oppong Nkrumah acknowledged that no government, including the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, had fully resolved the youth unemployment challenge. However, he questioned whether the current government’s flagship employment programmes were producing the intended outcomes.
He cited the 24-Hour Economy initiative, the One Million Coders Programme, the Adwumawura Programme, and the promise to create 250,000 jobs annually as key interventions that require closer scrutiny.
While acknowledging public enthusiasm for the One Million Coders Programme, which attracted more than 90,000 applications within 48 hours, he noted that implementation challenges have slowed progress. He also pointed out that only 475 entrepreneurs had reportedly received grants under the Adwumawura Programme nearly a year after its launch, despite a target of supporting 10,000 businesses annually.
The MP referenced the tragic Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise at El-Wak Stadium in November 2025, where thousands of young people competed for limited opportunities, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
“Six died in the stampede and five more went into intensive care while competing for only 2,000 slots. We have a labour market crisis which is getting worse,” he stressed.
To address the challenge, Oppong Nkrumah proposed a five-point strategy, including the publication of transparent job creation scorecards, separating skills development from job creation policies, mobilising private sector investment, strengthening apprenticeship systems, and establishing a comprehensive labour market information system.
He urged policymakers to move beyond political slogans and focus on practical interventions capable of generating sustainable employment opportunities.
“Ghanaian youth do not want slogans. They want feasible programmes that create dignified, productive and well-paid jobs,” he said.
The Ofoase-Ayirebi legislator called for urgent action to reverse the trend, warning that youth unemployment poses significant economic and social risks if left unaddressed.
“The data is clear. The youth unemployment problem is getting worse. The time to act is now,” he stated.