The eighth Ghana Career and Migration Fair (GCMF25) has been launched, targeting the country’s pressing youth unemployment crisis and evolving global job market.
Organized by the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs, Migration and Development and partners, the fair operates under the theme “future of work,” aiming to equip young Ghanaians with skills for emerging local and international labour opportunities. This initiative responds to Ghana’s 27.2% youth unemployment rate and a global context where over 73 million young people lack work.
Kwaku Yeboah, Component Manager at the Ghanaian-European Centre, stated the fair transcends traditional job matching. “It’s about access to the right skills, to the right support systems, and to opportunities across borders. It is about preparing Ghanaian youth to thrive in a rapidly changing world of work,” Yeboah explained. GCMF25 will concentrate on four critical workforce trends: digital transformation (AI, automation, remote work, digital literacy); skilled labour mobility and ethical migration; entrepreneurship and startups; and green jobs within the sustainable economy.
Policy Advisor Chantel Kristin Bredua Lahmer from the German Embassy underscored the urgency of adapting to labour market shifts. “Whether it’s the rise of AI, the demand for climate-resilient jobs, or the shift to digital and remote work, the labour market is evolving fast. And so must our response,” Lahmer stated. The fair will feature panel discussions, job exhibitions, startup pitches, workshops, and connect jobseekers with Ghanaian/European government reps, employers, trainers, financiers, and agencies.
Chief Director Hamidu Adakurugu of the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment highlighted the government’s commitment under President Mahama. “We’ve pledged to create over two million dignified jobs by 2028. With 300,000 young people entering the labour market annually, creating a platform like this fair allows for meaningful interaction between jobseekers and potential employers across various sectors,” Adakurugu said. The fair aligns with Ghana’s national employment strategy and Sustainable Development Goal 8 (decent work), aiming to bridge skills gaps and facilitate ethical migration.
GCMF25 will include regional events across Ghana in the coming months. The fair is the flagship event of the Ghanaian-European Centre, an initiative co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ Ghana in partnership with the Ministry of Labour.
