The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has expressed concern over what he describes as a persistent rise in youth unemployment, urging government to adopt stronger and more immediate policy measures to reverse the trend.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during deliberations on the state of the economy, following a statement by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, he said recent figures point to a worrying deterioration in job creation outcomes for young people.
He referenced data indicating that national youth unemployment has increased from 32 per cent in December 2024 to 32.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, describing the marginal rise as significant given its implications for economic inclusion and social stability.
According to him, the situation is particularly severe in urban areas, with the Greater Accra Region recording a youth unemployment rate of 49.3 per cent.
“In the Greater Accra Region alone, youth unemployment as at Q3 2025 is now at 49.3 per cent,” he stated, adding that this suggests nearly one in every two young people in the region is without work.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah argued that despite ongoing government programmes aimed at addressing unemployment, the latest indicators suggest the challenge is deepening rather than improving.
He called for a reassessment of current interventions and the introduction of more targeted and effective policies to tackle youth joblessness, particularly in densely populated urban centres.
