The Minister for Youth Development and Employment, George Opare Addo, has cautioned that the growing number of unemployed young people in Ghana poses a serious risk to national security, calling for urgent and collective action to confront the challenge.
In an interview on Citi FM on Thursday, December 18, the Minister described the scale of youth unemployment as deeply troubling, warning that the situation has implications beyond the economy and could undermine social stability if left unaddressed.
“When you look at the number of unemployed young people, it is frightening. It is not just an economic issue; it is a major national security concern that should worry all of us,” Opare Addo said, adding that government is rolling out interventions aimed at drastically reducing the figures.
His remarks follow the release of new data by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), which indicates that more than 1.3 million young Ghanaians were not engaged in work, education or training in the third quarter of 2025.
The GSS report shows that about 1.3 million people between the ages of 15 and 24—representing 21.5 per cent of that age group—were classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET), highlighting mounting labour market pressures and persistent skills mismatches.
Opare Addo assured the public that addressing youth unemployment remains a top priority for government, noting that intensified programmes are being pursued to equip young people with skills, expand job opportunities and reintegrate them into productive economic activities in the interest of national development and security.
