The Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has identified youth unemployment as one of Ghana’s major economic challenges, stressing the need for sustainable job creation to support the country’s growing youthful population.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, March 16, the minister noted that while the government had spent the previous year resetting the economy and placing it on a path to sustainability, the issue of unemployment, particularly among young people remains a key concern.
Dr. Forson explained that Africa’s rapidly expanding youth population means that public sector employment alone cannot provide adequate opportunities for the continent’s young people.
He indicated that the government is therefore implementing major policies and programmes aimed at creating sustainable jobs and expanding employment opportunities.
The finance minister made the remarks after holding discussions with the Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the World Bank, Paschal Donohoe, on Ghana’s economic transformation and the next phase of the country’s development agenda.
During the engagement, Mr. Donohoe congratulated Ghana on what was described as a remarkable improvement in the country’s national finances and expressed the World Bank’s readiness to continue supporting the country.
Dr. Forson added that the support will include a Jobs and Growth Analysis to help identify new opportunities for job creation.
He welcomed the continued partnership with the World Bank as Ghana works to create jobs, expand opportunities and secure a more prosperous future for its citizens.
