Prioritise policies to end youth unemployment — Youth advocate
A private legal practitioner and youth advocate, Paul Apreku Twum Barimah, has called on the government, policymakers and the private sector to prioritise policies that directly address youth unemployment and economic empowerment.
He observed that millions of young people were being held back by weak policies and the absence of a conducive environment that allowed them to realise their full potential.
Speaking on youth development and unemployment, Mr Twum Barimah, a former Member of Parliament of Bono East, noted that the energy, creativity and resilience demonstrated daily by young Ghanaians across different sectors of the economy clearly showed that the country possessed an active and ambitious youthful population capable of driving national development if given the necessary support.
He firmly dismissed the growing narrative that Ghanaian youth were lazy and unwilling to work, arguing that many young people continued to struggle not because they lacked determination or willingness to work, but because opportunities remained limited due to economic hardships, inadequate state support and structural barriers within the economy.
“The Ghanaian youth are not lazy. What they need is good policy direction, access to opportunities and a conducive environment to thrive. If you create the right conditions, our young people will excel in business, technology, agriculture, academia and entrepreneurship,” he stated.
After school policies
He noted that thousands of graduates left tertiary institutions each year with qualifications and skills, yet many were unable to secure meaningful employment because the economy had not expanded sufficiently to absorb the growing labour force.
Mr Twum Barimah explained that despite economic difficulties, many young people continued to venture into small businesses, digital entrepreneurship, transportation services, farming and vocational trades in an effort to survive and contribute to the economy.
The former MP, therefore, advocated increased investment in technical and vocational education, entrepreneurship development, industrialisation and digital transformation as key measures needed to create sustainable jobs for the youth.
He also urged authorities to improve the business environment through stable electricity supply, lower interest rates and easier access to credit facilities for young entrepreneurs and startups.
Mr Twum Barimah argued that Ghana’s future development depended significantly on how well the country harnessed the talents and potential of its youthful population.
According to him, the rise of youth led startups, innovation hubs and online businesses across the country was a clear demonstration that Ghanaian youth possessed enormous creativity and entrepreneurial capacity.
The former legislator pointed to the achievements of many young Ghanaians in technology, entertainment and agribusiness as clear evidence that the country’s youth were capable of transforming the economy when given the needed support.
He stressed that dozens of international and local studies as well as labour reports supported the view that youth unemployment was largely linked to policy and structural challenges rather than laziness.
World Bank report
Mr Twum Barimah referenced findings by the World Bank which noted in a report on youth employment in Ghana that unemployment among young people was linked more to limited job opportunities and weak structural support than unwillingness to work.
He also cited research by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which found that young Africans performed well in entrepreneurship and innovation when they operated within environments supported by sound policies, access to education, social capital and favourable economic conditions.
Mr Twum Barimah, therefore, maintained that with visionary leadership, strategic policies and a stable economic environment, Ghanaian youth could become one of the country’s strongest pillars for economic transformation, innovation and national progress.
