CEO Summit: Deloitte Ghana urges government to turn policies into real jobs

Daniel Jojo Owusu, Country Managing Partner of Deloitte Ghana, called for urgent and deliberate reforms to address rising graduate unemployment in Ghana at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit. Mr. Owusu said that Ghana's dependence on mining and a few dominant sectors cannot absorb the thousands of graduates produced annually by universities and colleges across the country. He stated, "The rapid growth of the youth population calls for immediate diversification of the economy to create real and adequate jobs."

Mr. Owusu cited research showing that only a small percentage of graduates secure meaningful employment within the first few years after completing school. He said, "Research has shown that about 15 percent of fresh graduates secure their first real employment between six months to two years after they leave university. Others could stay home for close to six years before securing some kind of permanent job." He described unemployment as a national challenge that requires coordinated efforts from government, businesses, and civil society. Mr. Owusu advocated stronger investment in technical and vocational education and urged government to provide relief measures and incentives for local manufacturers to enable expansion and job creation.

Mr. Owusu highlighted the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development as one of the promising initiatives capable of generating employment if fully implemented. He noted, "The policy aims to establish about 10,000 hectares of new plantations and create 250,000 jobs through a $500 million financing window." He also expressed support for the new Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, describing it as a major step toward modernising Ghana's investment framework.