Gov’t to launch care economy programme to create 100,000 jobs

Ghana's government plans to introduce a new domestic care economy programme next year, which is expected to generate approximately 100,000 jobs for young individuals, according to the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo. This initiative is part of the government's broader strategy to combat youth unemployment and offer sustainable employment opportunities for the young population.

Opare-Addo stated these sentiments during a Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) event in Accra. He highlighted that the government remains dedicated to reducing Ghana's unemployment rate by the conclusion of President John Dramani Mahama's four-year term. Opare-Addo acknowledged a slight rise in youth unemployment, which he attributes partly to Ghana's rapidly expanding youth population.

The government is currently implementing various initiatives through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and other programmes to boost employment opportunities for young people. According to Opare-Addo, the domestic care economy programme, set to launch under the YEA next year, is anticipated to directly employ nearly 100,000 young people, thereby contributing significantly to reducing the unemployment rate.

Opare-Addo expressed confidence that this programme, along with other youth-focused interventions, would greatly enhance employment prospects across the country. He emphasized that the government's goal was not merely to create jobs but to ensure young people access to decent, sustainable, and meaningful employment. The Minister noted that the planned programme and other interventions would be part of the government's comprehensive approach to tackling youth unemployment and improving the economic prospects of young Ghanaians.