• Ghana plans 500,000 jobs via oil palm expansion policy
• Government seeks IFC, World Bank funding for plantations
• Agriculture reforms aim to cut food imports, boost jobs

Le gouvernement ghanéen prévoit de réduire le chômage en mettant en place une initiative qui permettra de créer Ghana's government plans to create 500,000 jobs by expanding cash crops, primarily oil palm, under a new policy to be included in the 2026 budget, the Finance Ministry announced on Saturday.

Government Unveils Plan to Create 500,000 Jobs Through Expansion of Economic Crops like Oil Palm

The Government of Ghana is set to roll out a major agriculture-driven jobs initiative that could create more than 500,000 employment opportunities across the country, as part of a… pic.twitter.com/YFRBQP0FGh

— Ministry of Finance, Ghana (@MoF_Ghana) October 18, 2025

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson unveiled the job creation program during a meeting with Ethiopis Tafara, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa. The meeting was aimed at deepening collaboration between the government and the IFC to unlock new funding for the initiative. The government is also working with partners, including the World Bank, to mobilize the necessary long-term financing for the plantation development.

Forson said the comprehensive policy on oil palm plantations is designed to harness the crop's potential for generating large-scale employment across the entire value chain, from cultivation and processing to export.

Agriculture currently accounts for 20% of Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 35% of the active population. Despite this, Accra remains a significant importer of food and agricultural products because the underdeveloped agribusiness sector cannot meet rising domestic demand.

To address this gap, the government has launched several initiatives to boost food security, improve productivity, and stimulate job creation. These include the "Feed Ghana" program, which aims to reduce reliance on food imports, lower food inflation, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.

Additionally, President John Dramani Mahama launched the "Adwumawura" program in July, an initiative to tackle youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship nationwide. The program is expected to create, mentor, and support a minimum of 10,000 enterprises annually.

Lydie Mobio