‘New Economy’ projects offer no immediate jobs for the youth – Amin Adam

The Minority in Parliament says the government's New Economy programme will not provide the immediate employment opportunities needed to address Ghana's youth unemployment crisis.

The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, said the timelines attached to several flagship projects showed that their expected benefits would largely materialise from 2028 onwards.

He cited the planned 1,450-megawatt thermal power plant, noting that the first 600 megawatts were expected by December 2028, with the remaining capacity scheduled for completion by December 2030.

The Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam is also expected to begin its first phase in early 2029, with completion targeted for December 2030.

Dr Amin Adam said the oil palm programme, which is expected to create 250,000 jobs, was linked to a 2032 self-sufficiency target, while land acquisition was still underway.

He further noted that garment factories expected to employ 27,000 people remained at the feasibility stage and that the government intended to end commercial rice imports only by 2030.

The Minority argued that the timelines did not address the immediate demand for employment, particularly among young people entering the labour market.

“The Budget therefore does not address the immediate demand for jobs,” Dr Amin Adam said.

He acknowledged the Youth Employment Agency's engagement of 73,537 young people and its target of engaging 100,000 in 2027, but said the numbers were inadequate compared with the scale of the unemployment challenge.

Speaking at Parliament on Friday, November 13, after the 2027 budget presentation by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, he also questioned the GH¢156 million allocation to the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment.

“Two years on, it is offering the same young people a new slogan and a 2030 date,” he said.