As the Mahama-led administration ramps up its youth employment strategy, questions of execution, fairness, and long-term impact are beginning to shape public discourse around its flagship entrepreneurship programme.
Julian Mawuse Cobbinah, Chairman of the NDC Youth Manifesto Committee, announced on Sunday, May 4, that the government intends to support the creation of at least 10,000 youth-led businesses annually, a central pillar of its plan to curb youth unemployment and revitalize the private sector.
Appearing on Channel One Newsroom, Cobbinah projected that if each of these businesses employs at least 10 people, the initiative could result in 400,000 direct jobs over a four-year period — a staggering target that, if achieved, would mark one of the largest youth job interventions in Ghana’s recent history.
But beyond the numbers, Cobbinah acknowledged the risks of politicisation and mismanagement, vowing that the programme would be strictly merit-based. “In the past, support systems for young entrepreneurs were compromised by political patronage. This administration wants to break that cycle,” he said.
He underscored the need for transparency and fairness in how support is awarded, noting that past initiatives were often derailed by partisan bias and poor oversight. “This must be a credible regime,” he added, hinting at forthcoming reforms in how business grants, funding, and mentorship will be managed.
The programme, dubbed the Adwumawura Initiative, will target youth between the ages of 18 and 35, and is expected to be the cornerstone of the NDC’s youth empowerment agenda, aiming to unlock innovation and foster economic independence among young Ghanaians.
Analysts and young entrepreneurs alike are now watching closely to see how the government operationalises the plan — from selection criteria to access to capital, mentorship, and monitoring — all of which will determine whether the ambitious job creation targets are realistically achievable.
