Youth Unemployment a ‘National Emergency’ — Arise Ghana Urges Urgent Action

Accra, Jan. 7, 2026 – Pressure group Arise Ghana has described youth unemployment as a “slow-burning national emergency” that threatens to undermine economic gains and social stability, urging the government to implement immediate interventions to create jobs and empower young people.

Addressing journalists at a press conference at the International Press Centre in Accra on Wednesday, Arise Ghana Co-Convener, Ms. Marion Gifty Nyaaba, said the country cannot afford to ignore the over 1.3 million young people currently idle.

“Youth unemployment is not just an economic issue; it is a ticking social time bomb. Without urgent investments in skills training, entrepreneurship, and labour-intensive industries, all other progress will be at risk,” Ms. Nyaaba emphasized.

The group welcomed recent macroeconomic improvements, including lower inflation and a stronger cedi, but warned that these gains mean little if young Ghanaians remain unemployed and disconnected from opportunities.

Arise Ghana called on government, civil society, and the private sector to prioritise targeted programmes for youth empowerment, stressing that jobs, vocational training, and access to finance are essential to convert stability into sustainable prosperity.

Ms. Nyaaba urged citizens to monitor government efforts and hold leaders accountable, saying, “We must ensure that economic growth translates into real opportunities for our young people. Otherwise, we risk creating a generation left behind, frustrated and disillusioned.”

The press conference was part of Arise Ghana’s one-year independent assessment of the Mahama administration, highlighting both achievements in economic stabilization and persistent challenges in governance, youth employment, and institutional reform.

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