Labour Minister Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo disclosed that 180,000 of Ghana’s 300,000 annual young graduates face unemployment, underemployment, or skills mismatches.
Speaking at the Design & Technology Institute’s Jobs Fair, he cited Ghana Statistical Service data showing youth (15–35) constitute over 70% of national unemployment.
“Dreams are deferred as graduates flood the informal sector,” Pelpuo stated, attributing the crisis to lagging education-market alignment. The Mahama administration aims to create two million “dignified jobs” by 2028 through expanded technical training and industry-academia partnerships.
He endorsed the Precision Quality (PQ) framework—developed by DTI and Mastercard Foundation—as a critical solution. This Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) curriculum bridges skills gaps with job-ready competencies. Pelpuo urged national scaling of DTI’s Workplace Experience Learning program, incentivizing private sector participation.
“Future-proof careers demand technical mastery blended with adaptability,” he emphasized, noting technology’s disruptive impact. Stakeholders were challenged to adopt evidence-based reforms for economic stability.
