‘Ghana Cannot Rise When Its Youth Are Left Behind’– Sherif Ghali

Ghana has always shown remarkable resilience. From navigating global economic shocks to managing domestic challenges, the nation has demonstrated an impressive capacity to recover.

Inflation is down, monetary policy is easing, and the cedi is slowly regaining strength against major currencies.

Yet, as Sherif Ghali, President of the Ghana Youth Federation, points out, “Behind these macroeconomic gains lies a critical paradox: our youth remain largely unemployed, idle, and underutilized.”

For a country where more than half the population is under 35, this is not just a social challenge—it is an economic and security concern.

Hon. Ghali emphasizes, “A large, educated, and energetic youth population that remains economically idle threatens the sustainability of the very progress we are striving to protect.

Youth exclusion has historically fueled instability in many developing economies, and Ghana must avoid this trap.”

Investing in young people, he argues, is not charity; it is strategic.

“Youth inclusion is not expenditure—it is an investment in national stability and economic expansion. Every cedi directed toward youth development yields returns in productivity, innovation, and national competitiveness.”

The venerable Ghana Youth Federation President highlights four critical steps to ensure youth inclusion is meaningful:

1. Restore Fiscal Allocations to Youth Agencies

“Statutory allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund to the National Youth Authority and the Youth Employment Agency have declined, limiting their ability to operate at the district level,” Ghali explains.

Restoring and ring-fencing these allocations for skills development would create a predictable and targeted impact where unemployment pressures are highest.

2. Ensure Timely and Predictable Funding

“Youth programs often stall due to delays in fund disbursement,” he observes. Introducing a digital tracking system could improve transparency and efficiency, ensuring programs move beyond pilot stages to reach real national impact.

3. Implement Outcome-Based Accountability

“Funding must be tied to measurable outcomes,” Ghali insists.

Annual youth employment scorecards, jointly published by government and civil society, could track who benefits from these programs, fostering transparency and public trust.

“When programs fail, corrective actions should follow. Success should be measured in opportunities created for young Ghanaians, not just reports filed.”

4. Strengthen Partnerships with Youth Stakeholders

“Youth organizations, including the Ghana Youth Federation, stand ready to collaborate with government,” Ghali says.

“A structured Presidential Youth Advisory Platform would ensure continuous engagement, making sure young voices shape decisions that affect their future.”

Ghali concludes with a powerful reminder: “The true measure of Ghana’s economic progress will be seen in whether young Ghanaians can find dignity, opportunity, and purpose within it. No nation can rise sustainably when its youth are left behind.”

For Ghana, the choice is clear. Empower the youth now, or risk leaving the next generation—and the nation’s future—on uncertain ground.

“The durability of our recovery,” Mr. Ghali emphasizes, “will ultimately depend on empowering the generation that must sustain it.”

Edited by Joseph Wemakor