By Adu Koranteng
Every morning in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi, thousands of young Ghanaians wake up with degrees, skills, and big dreams—but nowhere to go. Their certificates hang neatly on bedroom walls, silent witnesses to a promise that education would lead to opportunity. For many, that promise has long been broken.
Unemployment in Ghana is no longer just an economic challenge. It is fast becoming a national security threat.
Dreams Deferred, Frustration Rising
Philip Asante graduated from the University of Ghana three years ago with a Second Class Upper in Political Science. Like many graduates, he believed his future would begin after National Service. Instead, it stalled.
“I am now doing my Master’s in Business Administration, but I still don’t have a job,” he said quietly. “My parents take care of everything—food, fees, rent. I feel like a burden. It’s painful.”
Philip remembers the promises made during the 2024 general election campaigns—jobs, hope, and a 24-hour economy.
“After the elections, the promises disappeared. The 24-hour economy is not even in the national budget. We feel ignored.”
Across the country, similar frustrations are pushing young people to the edge.
From Graduation to Desperation
At 28, Sophia Asamoah should be building her career. Instead, six years after graduating from the University for Development Studies, she is still unemployed.
“I have applied to almost 15 institutions with no success,” she said. “I am tired. I’m now considering travelling abroad to look for greener pastures.”
Sophia’s story mirrors that of many young Ghanaians who see migration—not ambition—as their only remaining option.
For Ibrahim Awudu Abubakre, a 30-year-old graduate of the University of Cape Coast, survival has taken priority over dignity.
“I drive Uber with a friend’s car at night and work as a construction labourer during the day,” he explained. “There is no decent job in the country. Life is very hard.”
When Joblessness Fuels Insecurity
As frustration deepens, the consequences are becoming visible on the streets. Security agencies report growing youth involvement in cybercrime, armed robbery, car snatching, theft, and kidnapping. Many young people now sit in prisons or on remand—not because they lacked education, but because they lacked opportunity.
Unemployment, experts warn, is feeding crime, eroding social cohesion, and stretching Ghana’s security systems.
The Numbers Tell a Disturbing Story
According to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), unemployment rose to 13.0 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, up from 12.8 per cent earlier in the year.
Youth unemployment is far worse. Those aged 15–24 years recorded an alarming 32.5 per cent, while unemployment among 15–35-year-olds stood at 21.9 per cent.
Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu describes the situation bluntly:
“This is not just a jobs gap. It is a dignity gap.”
More than 70 per cent of Ghana’s labour force—mostly women and young people—remain trapped in the informal sector, often in unstable and poorly paid work.
Urban areas suffer higher unemployment (15.1 per cent) than rural areas (9.6 per cent), while women continue to face higher joblessness than men.
Even more worrying is the growing number of young people classified as Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET). Nearly 2 million young Ghanaians now fall into this category—idle, frustrated, and vulnerable.
A Generation at Risk
Beyond unemployment, many of those who are working are underemployed. Over one-fifth of workers say their skills are only partially used, raising questions about wasted talent and lost productivity.
Experts warn that prolonged joblessness among the youth threatens Ghana’s democratic stability. Idle hands, they argue, are easily drawn into crime, political violence, and extremism.
More Than an Economic Crisis
This is not just about jobs—it is about hope, dignity, and national survival.
If bold, inclusive, and sustainable employment policies are not urgently implemented, Ghana risks losing an entire generation to frustration, migration, and crime. The cost of inaction will not only be counted in lost productivity, but in rising insecurity and broken lives.
For young people like Philip, Sophia, and Ibrahim, the message is simple:
“We don’t want handouts,” Philip said. “We just want a fair chance to work.”
