Deloitte Ghana Urges Government to Turn Economic Policies Into Real Jobs at CEO Summit

Ghana’s economy is not creating enough jobs for its growing youth population, and the country’s dependence on mining and a handful of dominant sectors is making the problem worse. That was the blunt message from Deloitte Ghana’s Country Managing Partner, Daniel Jojo Owusu, at the 10th Ghana CEO Summit on Wednesday.

“The rapid growth of the youth population calls for immediate diversification of the economy to create real and adequate jobs,” Owusu told the gathering of business leaders and policymakers.

The numbers paint a stark picture. According to Owusu, research shows that only about 15 percent of fresh graduates secure their first real employment within six months to two years of leaving university. Others can wait as long as six years before landing a permanent position. The findings underscore a structural mismatch between the output of Ghana’s universities and the absorptive capacity of its formal economy.

“We should treat rising unemployment as a national issue,” Owusu said, calling for coordinated efforts from government, businesses, and civil society. Despite the African Development Bank’s projection of 5 percent GDP growth for Ghana in 2026, the question of whether that growth translates into meaningful employment for young Ghanaians remains open.

Digitalisation as a Job Creation Engine

Owusu identified digitalisation as one of the most promising tools for driving job creation and economic transformation, pointing to enormous untapped opportunities in e-commerce, digital trade, artificial intelligence, platform-based activities, and digital financial services.

While acknowledging the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation’s efforts, he said Ghana still has significant ground to cover. “There are enormous opportunities in the digital economy. We must capitalize on these numerous opportunities to address the vast unemployment,” he said.

Technical and Vocational Training

The Deloitte chief also made a strong case for technical and vocational education, citing the examples of China and Japan, both of which used technical training to build globally competitive economies. “It is time for us to lay greater emphasis on technical and vocational education,” he argued.

Manufacturing Incentives and Agricultural Reform

On industrial growth, Owusu urged the government to provide relief measures and incentives for local manufacturers to enable expansion and job creation. He highlighted the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development as a promising initiative that could generate 250,000 jobs through a $500 million financing window if fully implemented.

“The policy aims to establish about 10,000 hectares of new plantations and create 250,000 jobs through a $500 million financing window. These are promising policies, but implementation is necessary to generate jobs and drive sustainability,” he said.

On agriculture more broadly, he called for “deliberate and actionable policies” rather than the cycle of policy announcements that have failed to transform the sector in the past.

Investment Framework Reform

Owusu expressed strong support for the new Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, describing it as a significant modernisation of the country’s investment legal framework. The proposed law would strengthen investor protection, improve dispute resolution mechanisms, and create a more conducive environment for both local and foreign investment.

In his closing remarks, Owusu called for deeper collaboration between government, the private sector, and civil society. “I encourage government, the business community, and civil society to foster collaboration to drive sustainable business, stimulate job creation through innovation and deliberate policy creation, and enhance inclusive decision-making,” he said.

The call from Ghana’s largest professional services firm carries particular weight at a time when the cedi continues to weaken and fiscal pressures mount, making the gap between policy ambition and economic reality ever more visible.

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