Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Hon. Eric Edem Agbana, has called for a fundamental shift in Ghana’s youth employment strategy, urging government to prioritise sustainable job creation through investments in education, technical training and digital skills rather than relying on short-term interventions.
The Member of Parliament argued that Ghana’s youthful population will only become a true demographic dividend if deliberate investments are made in human capital development, warning that persistent inequalities in education and limited access to skills training continue to undermine opportunities for many young people, particularly those in rural communities.
Long-term employment solutions must focus on equipping young people with practical and digital competencies rather than temporary interventions that offer little lasting impact.
Human Capital Key to Population Growth
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana has stressed that Ghana cannot achieve meaningful national development without aligning population growth with sustained investment in human capital.
Contributing to discussions in Parliament, the Ketu South legislator said population and development are inseparable, insisting that understanding demographic trends should remain central to national planning.
According to him, many countries celebrate youthful populations as a demographic advantage, but that potential does not automatically translate into economic growth.
Instead, he argued that the demographic dividend can only be realised through strategic investments in education, healthcare and employable skills.
“Population and development are linked. You cannot delink the two together and there cannot be development if we do not properly understand the population dynamics and make proper investments into these dynamics.”
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana
Hon. Agbana cautioned against viewing Ghana’s youthful population merely as a numerical advantage, noting that without deliberate investment, the country risks missing a significant opportunity to accelerate economic transformation.
Education Must Reach Every Child
The Member of Parliament identified unequal access to quality education as one of the biggest barriers preventing many young Ghanaians from fulfilling their potential.
He observed that children born in rural communities continue to face systemic disadvantages that limit their chances of progressing through the education system.
According to him, several public basic schools in deprived districts continue to record poor Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) outcomes, leaving many pupils without realistic prospects of advancing to tertiary education.
Hon. Agbana argued that investment in education should be distributed more equitably so that children in rural communities enjoy the same opportunities as their counterparts in Ghana’s major urban centres.
Referring to his own observations, he noted that a child born in Obosomase or any other rural community should not be disadvantaged simply because of where they were born.
He stressed that equal educational opportunities remain essential to promoting inclusive national development and reducing regional inequalities.
Vocational Training Critical to Tackling Unemployment
The Ketu South MP also highlighted technical and vocational education as one of the most sustainable solutions to youth unemployment.
While commending the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme, he maintained that current funding levels remain inadequate to meet the growing demand among young people seeking employable skills.
According to him, expanding vocational education would create opportunities for thousands of school dropouts and unemployed youth to acquire practical skills capable of generating sustainable incomes.
“Technical and vocational education provides one of the strongest pathways for empowering young people with skills that create lasting employment and economic independence.”
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana
Hon. Agbana therefore appealed for increased budgetary allocations to the National Apprenticeship Programme in future budgets to enable more beneficiaries to participate.
He said strengthening apprenticeship initiatives would contribute significantly to reducing unemployment while supporting productivity across key sectors of the economy.
Digital Skills Require Greater Investment
Beyond vocational education, Hon. Agbana underscored the importance of digital literacy in preparing Ghana’s youth for an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
He acknowledged ongoing government interventions, including the One Million Coders Programme and the Girls in ICT initiative, noting that students within his constituency had already begun benefiting from the programmes.
However, he warned that inadequate digital infrastructure continues to limit the reach and effectiveness of such initiatives.
According to the legislator, fewer than ten out of approximately 88 basic schools in his constituency currently have access to computers.
He questioned how government could successfully promote digital literacy when the majority of schools still lack basic technological facilities.
The MP consequently urged government to increase budgetary support for digital education infrastructure, arguing that access to computers and digital learning resources should become a standard feature across all public schools.
“Digital inclusion must begin at the basic school level because the future labour market will increasingly reward technological competence and innovation.”
Hon. Eric Edem Agbana
Sustainable Jobs, Not Short-Term Interventions
Hon. Agbana concluded by reiterating that addressing youth unemployment requires long-term investments capable of creating lasting economic opportunities.
He maintained that employment programmes should prioritise skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship instead of temporary measures that provide only short-lived relief.
According to him, sustained investments in education, vocational training and digital skills would equip Ghana’s young population with the tools needed to compete in both local and international labour markets.
He further argued that strengthening human capital development would not only improve employment prospects but also position Ghana to fully harness the economic potential of its growing youth population.
The Ketu South legislator therefore called for future national budgets to place greater emphasis on expanding access to quality education, apprenticeship opportunities and digital skills programmes, insisting that these investments represent the most effective path towards sustainable job creation and inclusive national development.
As Ghana continues to grapple with youth unemployment and changing demographic realities, Hon. Agbana maintained that transforming the country’s youthful population into a productive workforce will require consistent policy commitment, equitable investment and a clear focus on building skills that endure beyond short-term employment initiatives.
