Ghana’s growth hinges on youth jobs, World Bank warns: education-to-employment transition must work or the economy stalls.
The World Bank has emphasized that Ghana’s economic future will depend largely on the country’s ability to create jobs for young people and ensure a smooth transition from education to employment.
This message was delivered at the 2026 Africa West and Central Youth Forum on Jobs, held in Accra on Monday. Speaking at the event, Michelle Keane, Operations Manager for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone at the World Bank, highlighted the critical role of youth employment in sustaining the country’s growth and development.
“Here in Ghana, this conversation is particularly relevant. The country’s growth trajectory will largely depend on how successfully young people transition from education into productive employment, from ideas to enterprises, and from ambition into concrete opportunities,” she stated.
Ms. Keane noted that many young Ghanaians are already demonstrating strong entrepreneurial potential, particularly through small-scale businesses. However, she stressed that the scale and urgency of the youth employment challenge require immediate and coordinated action.
She called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to help transform youth-led enterprises into sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and driving economic growth.
