Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare‑Addo, says the reduction in national unemployment rate is indicative of the government commitment to offer hope to Ghanaians, especially the youth.
He says the decline in the unemployment rate from 14.8% in 2024 to 13.0% in 2025 is evidence that the NDC administration’s job‑creation policies are beginning to bear fruit.
“If you check the unemployment rate of 14.8% in 2024 and 13.0% in 2025, clearly some progress has been made. We also acknowledge that there is more that we need to do to bring it down further,” he told Nhyira Fm.
The minister attributed the improvement to a suite of government‑driven initiatives.
According to him, some of these initiatives, which include the Big Push Project, the One‑Million Coders Initiative, the 24‑Hour Market, the National Apprenticeship Programme, and the Entrepreneurship Support Schemes, are already underway and others in the pipeline.
In addition, he revealed that the Ministry has rolled out the Youth Tracker and Youth Xplore App, a central digital hub that aggregates job listings, apprenticeships, training opportunities, and other youth‑focused resources.
Mr. Opare-Addo also noted the AgTractive Campaign is also an effort to make agriculture more attractive to young Ghanaians by showcasing modern farming techniques and market linkages.
“All these initiatives are evidence‑based and open for anyone to verify,” he said, adding that the government will “double up its effort” to create even more jobs for the youth, who constitute a large share of the country’s population.
Addressing the high number of young people in prison, the minister noted that harsh living conditions and certain lifestyles often push young people into conflict with the law.
“It is not surprising that some young people end up in prison. Harsh living conditions and certain lifestyles often push youths into conflict with the law,” he remarked.
He said the ministry is intensifying its campaign against drug abuse in 2026 and will collaborate closely with security and law‑enforcement agencies to steer vulnerable youth away from criminal activities.
Mr. Opare‑Addo urged Ghanaians to remain patient as the government continues to implement its youth‑focused policies.
“There is hope, and we will keep working to create more jobs and brighter futures for our young people,” he said.
Source: Francis Mensah
