Youth unemployment remains government’s biggest challenge — Asiedu Nketia

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has identified youth unemployment as the biggest challenge confronting the government, stressing that the public sector alone cannot absorb the growing number of young people seeking jobs.

Speaking during the NDC’s Thank You Tour in Tolon in the Northern Region, Mr Asiedu Nketia said the government’s long-term solution to unemployment would focus heavily on skills development, vocational training, and entrepreneurship rather than relying solely on recruitment into state institutions.

“It is not possible for the government to recruit everybody into the Police Service, Army, Fire Service, Immigration, Customs, and the other security agencies,” he stated. “There is no way the government will have enough spaces for all of us there.”

According to him, creating sustainable employment opportunities will require equipping young people with practical and employable skills that can help them establish businesses, enter technical professions, and become economically independent outside the public sector.

Mr Asiedu Nketia pointed to countries such as United States, Canada, and Germany, where immigrants and young people are often integrated into vocational and technical training systems to improve their employability and economic productivity.

“When you go to America, Canada, or Germany, one of the first things they do is to help you acquire skills or training that will allow you to work and earn a living,” he said. “That is the direction the government intends to pursue.”

The NDC Chairman encouraged young people in Tolon and across the country to remain optimistic and continue supporting government initiatives aimed at addressing unemployment, improving livelihoods, and expanding economic opportunities.

His comments come at a time when concerns over youth unemployment continue to dominate national discussions, particularly among graduates and young people in rural communities who are demanding more jobs, skills training opportunities, and greater economic inclusion.

Mr Asiedu Nketia was in the Northern Region as part of the NDC’s nationwide Thank You Tour following the party’s victory in the 2024 general elections. The tour is intended to express appreciation to supporters while also engaging communities on the government’s plans and development priorities.