Research Reports

This comprehensive report, dated April 2026, reveals that Ghana is confronting deep-rooted structural challenges in addressing youth unemployment, despite a growing and increasingly educated young population. While young people constitute a significant share of the labour force, the economy continues to struggle to generate sufficient decent and sustainable employment opportunities, pushing many youth into vulnerable, low-paying, and informal work. The report highlights persistent mismatches between education and labour market demands, leaving many graduates without the practical and technical skills required by employers. At the same time, systemic governance weaknesses—including fragmented policy coordination, inconsistent implementation, inadequate financing, and political interference in programme delivery—continue to undermine the effectiveness and inclusivity of youth employment interventions. Young women, rural youth, and persons with limited social connections remain disproportionately excluded from economic opportunities. Although Ghana’s expanding digital and entrepreneurial ecosystem presents emerging pathways for employment and innovation, unequal access to infrastructure, technology, finance, and markets risks deepening existing disparities. To address these challenges, the report calls for a long-term, coordinated, and evidence-driven national strategy that strengthens governance and accountability, aligns education and skills development with labour market needs, supports private sector growth, and ensures equitable access to opportunities for all young people across regions and social groups.

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