By Baptista S. Gebu (Mrs.)
Ghana is 68 years old – hurry! Let’s talk about Ghana’s independence, its future, and the future of work. As Ghana celebrates 68 years of independence this year, it’s essential to reflect on the country’s progress, challenges, and future aspirations, particularly concerning the future of work.
Sadly, many students are paying to attend institutions of higher learning to study courses and programs that are disappearing, according to research. Let it not be said that Ghana didn’t take advantage of the future of work conversation.
In terms of our past achievements and challenges at basic, Ghana has made significant strides since independence in 1957 in terms of economic growth, democratic governance, and human development, to mention but a few. Ghana has transitioned from a low-income to a lower-middle-income country and has consolidated its democratic institutions, ensuring peaceful transfers of power.
The 2024 election was another success story, and the country is making advances in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, which is improving living standards. However, challenges persist at minimum in areas of economic inequality, unemployment, brain drain, and more. Despite growth, poverty and income disparities remain.
Youth unemployment, in particular, is a pressing concern. Many job seekers over the period from the Covid era often will say, “Though I hold a master’s degree, for purposes of seeking a job, I can accept first-degree jobs if none is available at my level”.
As Ghana looks to the future, it’s crucial to address the changing nature of work, driven by technological advancements, demographic shifts, and environmental concerns. Key areas to focus on in the country should be digitalization, entrepreneurship, and innovation, as well as sustainable economic growth, brain gain, and talent attraction Investment in education and training programs that equip Ghanaians with skills for the digital age, such as coding, data science, and artificial intelligence, is what I am advocating for.
Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and supporting start-ups and small businesses, particularly in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and renewable energy, will be a step in the right direction. Prioritizing sustainable economic development, focusing on industries that promote environmental conservation, social justice, and economic equality, as well as implementing policies and programs that address youth unemployment, providing opportunities for skills development, mentorship, and employment is what the country needs. Ghana should be able to develop strategies to attract and retain skilled professionals, including diaspora Ghanaians, to contribute to the country’s development.
To achieve these goals, Ghana should be able to develop a comprehensive national development plan that integrates the future of work, sustainable development, and human capital development. Fostering public-private partnerships to support skills development, entrepreneurship, and innovation and investment in digital infrastructure will bridge the digital divide and enable access to digital opportunities.
Promoting a culture of lifelong learning, encouraging continuous skills development and adaptation to changing labor market demands, as well as encouragement in diaspora engagement and collaboration to leverage the skills, expertise, and resources of Ghanaians abroad. To forge a future of work that works for all, Ghana can consider practical strategies which I have grouped under the thematic heading of education and skills development, entrepreneurship and job creation, digitalization and innovation, social protection and inclusion, and then on partnership and collaboration.
Under education and skills development, the country must consider revamping its education curriculum by integrating skills like coding, data analysis, and digital literacy into the curriculum to prepare students for the future job market. Sadly, many students are paying to attend institutions of higher learning to study courses and programs that are disappearing, according to research.
Let it not be said that Ghana didn’t take advantage of the future of work conversation. Trust me, it’s a conversation that you cannot ignore. It’s affecting all things humanity in all areas. Just understand the conversation before taking sides because it will affect you in many ways. The government is not immune, neither is the church, our institutions of higher learning, our mosques, our families, nor you. Just know what applies to you, which my new book addresses.
Vocational training is a great area of focus. Investment in vocational training programs that focus on emerging industries introducing a technological twist to it will benefit the country loads. Our governments, through the appropriate ministries and departments, ought to provide opportunities for continuous skill development and up-skilling.
Entrepreneurship and Job Creation is an area that will support our startups, Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as our apprenticeships and internship efforts. Provide funding, mentorship, and resources to startups and entrepreneurs, particularly in sectors with high growth potential. Implementing policies and programs that support the growth of SMEs, which are critical for job creation, and encouraging businesses to offer apprenticeships and internships to provide young people with practical work experience should be the 21st-century approach to be adopted.
Investment in robust digital infrastructure must consider reliable internet access to support the growth of digital businesses and access to continuity. The country’s quest to promote innovation hubs must encourage the appropriate ministries and departments to consider the establishments of hubs and incubators to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. It’s not enough for the government to have programs and slogans that encourage e-commerce. There must be a purposive intent to support the growth of e-commerce by providing resources, training, and infrastructure to Ghanaian businesses.
How do we guarantee social protection and inclusion for all? Kudos to Ghana, we implement a national minimum wage. But establishing a national minimum wage to ensure that workers earn a living wage is still not enough. We must ensure the take-home pay of workers can take them home. This cannot be a day’s journey to achieve. It must be deliberate and purposive. Social protection programs are a great initiative any government can think about. Implementing social protection programs, such as unemployment benefits, can support workers who lose their jobs.
The question many may be asking at this point is, is Ghana a rich country to consider unemployment benefits? The grass is greener here with the many natural resources God has blessed the country with. If these resources are put to better use, coupled with better leadership, Ghana can do better than these little propositions. Implementing policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the labor market will become great additions.
Partnerships and Collaboration are very important strategies each government must adopt. Fostering partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society to support job creation, entrepreneurship, and skills development, as well as collaborating with international organizations, development partners, and other countries to share best practices, access new markets, and attract investments will benefit our country.
The USAID brouhaha is another wake-up call for the country to start serious social enterprise promotion rather than reliance on foreign aid and international donors. Let us have a conversation if this is something you are considering as an organization or business.
Ghana has made significant strides in human development but still faces several challenges. On the positive side, Ghana has consolidated its democratic institutions, ensuring peaceful transfers of power and respect for human rights at a minimum. The country has also made progress in education with the implementation of free secondary education, which has increased enrollment rates.
All the matters arising out of an overhauled Free SHS program must be considered in order not to lower the country’s human capital quality. The effect can be seen between some 5-15years from today.
However, Ghana still grapples with several challenges. One major issue is the high youth unemployment rate, with 15-24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training. This has led to brain drain, with many educated Ghanaians also seeking opportunities abroad.
From 2023, the Ghana Statistical services report indicates the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment was 1.5 million youth. We all can attest that youth unemployment is the most common driver of vulnerability, violent extremism, and radicalization in any country, and Ghana is not an exception.
The Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022 third quarter Labour Statistics report indicates, “more than half of the youth in Accra (312,394), Ashanti (300,161), Eastern (131,341), and Central (129,182) regions are not in employment, education or training. In 13 out of the 16 regions, more than 20% of young persons, 15 to 24 years, were not in education, employment, or training, with the Eastern Region (30.0%) reporting the highest proportion of youth, with a figure about twice that of Bono Region (14.5%). Bono has the lowest proportion,” the report said.
Another challenge is the country’s economic growth, which has been slow in recent years. Ghana’s economy is heavily reliant on the export of raw materials, such as cocoa and gold, making it vulnerable to external shocks. The country also faces challenges in terms of corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and inadequate infrastructure.
In terms of human development, Ghana is making progress in reducing poverty but still faces significant disparities between rural and urban areas. The 2023 Ghana Human Development Report highlighted the challenges facing Ghana’s workforce, including a large informal sector (75%) and high youth unemployment (65% among 15-24-year-olds).
The country also needs to address issues related to healthcare, sanitation, and access to clean water with the Galamsey crisis bedeviling the economy now. If not addressed holistically, the ripple effect and the aftermath of this challenge cannot be contained as water eventually affects everything in an ecosystem – from farming, which will affect our food supply and quality of yields, to the communicable diseases the country could face from having its citizen consume these unwholesome waters to just name the rest!
Overall, while Ghana has made significant progress in human development, it still faces several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth. Addressing youth unemployment, brain drain, and entrepreneurship requires a multi-faceted approach. African Countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Egypt, and others have deployed some strategies to address these identified issues. In South Africa, Egypt, and Rwanda, fostering entrepreneurship through initiatives like the SA National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Egyptian and Rwanda Youth Entrepreneurship Program provides funding, mentorship, and training for young entrepreneurs, respectively.
In Canada, implementing policies like the Canadian Experience Class allows international students and skilled workers to gain permanent residency, reducing brain drain. Germany is introducing initiatives like the “Make it in Germany” campaign, which attracts skilled workers from around the world, addressing labor shortages. Australia is offering programs like the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme, which provides funding, mentorship, and support for startups and entrepreneurs.
As you can see, many countries are focusing on developing skills and competencies that match labor market demands, and their governments are implementing policies and programs that support startups, provide access to finance, and foster innovation. Ghana must think of initiatives that attract and retain skilled workers, such as offering competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement.
President Mahama’s plan to address economic inequality and create hope for the youth in Ghana is centered on his “24-Hour Economy” initiative. This plan aims to transform Ghana into a 24-hour economy, with businesses operating around the clock to increase productivity and economic growth. I have always advised in this policy that Ghana must be known for producing a niche. When assessing a number of the 24-hour Economic country interventions, what we stand to offer as a nation must be very clear in our approach to this policy.
In addressing economic inequality is a pressing issue worldwide. To reduce inequality, South Africa focuses on promoting inclusive economic growth, improving education, and enhancing social protection programs. The country aims to address the historical disparities created by apartheid. Rwanda has implemented initiatives like the Vision 2020 Program, which aims to reduce poverty and inequality by promoting economic development and social protection. Egypt has introduced policies to reduce poverty and inequality, including cash transfer programs and subsidies for essential goods.
Canada has implemented policies like the Canada Child Benefit, which provides financial support to low-income families, helping reduce child poverty. Germany has introduced initiatives like the “Social Housing” program, which provides affordable housing to low-income households, addressing housing inequality. What about the 24–hour economy? Will Ghana be denoted for?
Many countries are also adopting progressive taxation systems, where higher-income individuals are taxed at a higher rate to reduce income inequality. Other countries are implementing social protection programs, such as cash transfers, subsidies, and unemployment benefits, to support low-income households. Investing in education is a key strategy to address economic inequality. Some countries are focusing on improving access to quality education, especially for disadvantaged groups, while others are promoting entrepreneurship and job creation, especially among youth and women, to address unemployment and income inequality. Happy 68th Independence anniversary to you.
Baptista is a multifaceted hybrid professional known for her work on the future of work. She is the CEO of FoReal HR Services. Building a team of efficient & effective workforce is her business. Affecting lives is her calling! She is an HR Generalist, International Development Expert, Public Speaker, Researcher, and Lifestyle Interventionist. You can reach her @Sarahtistagh across all platforms.
