Ghana showcases bold economic gains, urge global action on jobs crisis

Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, has called for urgent, data-driven action to bridge what he termed “a dignity gap” in the global labor landscape, even as Ghana records encouraging economic growth.

Speaking on behalf of Ghana at the ongoing High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York, Dr. Iddrisu addressed delegates during the session on SDG 8 — Decent Work and Inclusive Growth.

“The 2025 SDG report paints a sobering picture on SDG 8, and that should concern us all,” Dr. Iddrisu began, noting that while Ghana has made significant progress, major challenges remain.

According to him, Ghana prioritized five high-impact SDG targets, with a strong focus on decent work and inclusive economic growth.

As a result, the country’s economy grew by 5.7% in 2024 — outperforming the sub-Saharan African average — while inflation fell sharply from a staggering 54% in 2022 to 13.7% by mid-2025.

“Yet growth alone is not enough,” he cautioned.

“Unemployment remains high at 14.7%, and youth joblessness has climbed to over 25%. More than 70% of our labor force — mostly women and young people — remains trapped in the informal sector.”

He described the situation not just as an economic issue but as one of human dignity: “This is not just a jobs gap, it's a dignity gap.”

To tackle this challenge, Dr. Iddrisu outlined Ghana’s ambitious Reset Ghana Agenda — a comprehensive national strategy aimed at expanding economic opportunities and shielding the vulnerable.

Key initiatives under the agenda include:

The 24-Hour Economy: A policy aimed at unlocking employment across non-traditional hours.

The Big Push Programme: A $10 billion infrastructure drive to stimulate job creation.

One Million Coders Initiative: Targeting the training of one million youth in digital skills.

Gold Board Formalization Scheme: Designed to regulate and support small-scale miners, increasing foreign exchange earnings.

Dr. Iddrisu also highlighted reforms in macroeconomic policy, revealing that job creation has now been integrated into the monetary policy objectives of the Bank of Ghana.

Since 2022, the country has also produced quarterly labor statistics to track progress and challenges.

“In 2025, we’re launching a national survey on skills mismatches to better align education and training with real market needs,” he added.

At the heart of Ghana’s strategy, he said, is a firm belief in the power of data.

“Our compass for this transformation is data. If we are serious about SDG 8, then data must be treated as core infrastructure — essential to recovery, not accidental to it.”

Dr. Iddrisu ended his statement with a call to action for the international community: “Let us act, not just commit, in these five years. The future of work and the dignity of workers depends on it.”

The HLPF serves as the central United Nations platform for the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

This year’s forum is focused on accelerating recovery from COVID-19 while advancing sustainable development, particularly in areas such as poverty, inequality, and employment.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith