Daniel Jojo Owusu, Country Managing Partner of Deloitte Ghana, has called for urgent and targeted reforms to address rising graduate unemployment in Ghana, warning that the country’s current economic structure is unable to generate enough jobs for its expanding youth population.
Speaking at the 10th CEO Summit in Accra, Mr Owusu said Ghana’s dependence on mining and a limited number of dominant industries could no longer absorb the growing number of graduates produced by universities and tertiary institutions each year.
He stressed that the rapid increase in the youth population made economic diversification essential if the country was to create sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities.
Mr Owusu noted that research showed only a small percentage of graduates secured stable employment within the first few years after completing university.
According to him, around 15 per cent of graduates obtain meaningful employment between six months and two years after graduation, while many others may remain unemployed or underemployed for as long as six years before finding permanent work.
Describing unemployment as a national concern, he urged government, businesses and civil society organisations to work together to address the issue. He also questioned how Ghana could better encourage businesses to expand and support entrepreneurship among young people.
He identified digitalisation as a major driver of economic transformation and job creation, highlighting opportunities within the digital economy, including e-commerce, artificial intelligence, digital trade, platform-based services, digital financial solutions and technology infrastructure.
Although he acknowledged steps already taken by government, Mr Owusu maintained that Ghana had yet to fully exploit the vast potential within the digital space to create employment for young people.
He also advocated greater investment in technical and vocational education, arguing that countries such as China and Japan had successfully used technical training to strengthen their economies and develop globally competitive industries.
On industrial development, the Deloitte Ghana executive called on government to introduce relief measures and incentives for manufacturers and businesses within the value chain to enable them to expand operations and employ more graduates.
Mr Owusu further pointed to the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development as a promising initiative capable of generating significant employment opportunities if effectively implemented. He explained that the policy seeks to establish approximately 10,000 hectares of new plantations and create about 250,000 jobs through a financing package worth 500 million dollars.
He also appealed for stronger support for the agricultural sector, emphasising the need for practical and action-oriented policies capable of transforming the industry and creating sustainable employment.
On investment reforms, Mr Owusu expressed support for the proposed Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, describing it as an important step towards modernising the country’s investment framework. According to him, the legislation would improve investor protection, strengthen dispute resolution systems, and create a more favourable environment for both local and foreign investment.
He encouraged closer cooperation between government, the private sector and civil society to promote sustainable economic growth, stimulate job creation through innovation and deliberate policymaking and support more inclusive decision-making processes.
