• World Bank to conduct jobs and growth analysis targeting youth employment

• Visit highlights Ghana’s push for economic transformation and private sector job creation

• Initiative comes as youth unemployment remains above 13%

The World Bank Group’s Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, Paschal Donohoe, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to support job creation and employment expansion in Ghana during his first official visit to Africa, which took place on 13-14 March 2026. Donohoe held discussions with Ghana’s Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in a working session aimed at advancing Ghana’s economic transformation and national development agenda.

As part of the Bank’s commitment, it will undertake a Jobs and Growth Analysis aimed at identifying sustainable employment opportunities across key economic sectors, particularly targeting youth employment. The Jobs and Growth Analysis is an analytical framework used by the World Bank to assess labor market dynamics, identify constraints to employment creation, and recommend targeted policy interventions to promote inclusive economic growth.  This type of analysis typically combines macroeconomic modelling, sectoral assessments, and labour force data to help governments design strategies that stimulate job creation, especially for youth and vulnerable groups. While the World Bank has confirmed it will undertake a Jobs and Growth Analysis for Ghana as part of its ongoing support, the full details, terms of reference and release timetable for the Ghana‑specific study have not yet been made public. Authorities and Bank officials have indicated that more information on the scope and timing will be released in the coming months once the initial planning and data collection phases are completed.

This initiative comes as Ghana faces significant challenges in job creation: according to the Ghana Statistical Service, the youth unemployment rate stood at 13.2% in 2025, highlighting the need for strategies that expand opportunities beyond the public sector. The analysis will provide data-driven insights to inform policies, guide investment, and support programs that can stimulate private sector-led job growth across industries such as agribusiness, manufacturing, and digital services.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Finance (Ghana), Dr. Forson said the government’s focus in 2025 was on resetting the economy and placing it on a path to fiscal sustainability. He noted that while economic stability has improved, unemployment, particularly among young people, remains a major challenge. “Africa has a rapidly growing youthful population, and it is clear that public sector employment alone cannot provide the opportunities our young people need,” the Finance Minister said in comments published on 13 March 2026.

During the visit, Paschal Donohoe commended Ghana on the remarkable improvement in its national finances and stated that the World Bank stands ready to continue supporting the country’s priorities. Donohoe’s public remarks on social media on 13 March 2026 noted productive exchanges with Ghanaian government officials and reaffirmed the World Bank’s readiness to support the country’s employment agenda.

The visit by Donohoe, his first official mission to Africa since assuming his role in November 2025, was part of the World Bank’s broader engagement with Ghana and other African economies in 2026. During the visit, the World Bank also discussed ongoing technical assistance and pipeline financing aimed at expanding economic opportunities, including in areas related to employment and human capital development.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang