The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns over persistently high youth unemployment in Ghana, revealing that the unemployment rate among people aged 15 to 24 has remained at about 30 per cent.
In its latest country report on Ghana, the IMF said social conditions remain challenging despite measures introduced to protect vulnerable households.
The report noted that, according to World Bank estimates, the proportion of Ghanaians living below the international poverty line of US$3 a day declined modestly from 38.9 per cent in 2022 to 37.1 per cent in 2025, supported by lower inflation and improved growth in the agriculture and services sectors.
To tackle unemployment, particularly among young people, the IMF said the government’s Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2026–2029) places emphasis on economic growth driven by labour-intensive sectors capable of creating more jobs.
However, the Fund warned that Ghana continues to face significant social protection gaps that require increased funding and more effective implementation of existing programmes.
“While social spending has increased modestly under the ECF, coverage and benefit levels remain low relative to needs and regional comparators.”
The IMF said the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, even with its planned expansion, will cover only a small proportion of the nearly 40 per cent of Ghanaians living below the international poverty line.
The report also noted that although education outcomes have improved, enrolment rates—particularly at the secondary school level—remain below the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, while education quality continues to lag behind that of comparable countries.
The IMF concluded that maintaining strong social safety nets will be critical as Ghana continues fiscal consolidation and navigates global economic uncertainty.
“In the context of ongoing fiscal discipline, global uncertainty, and ongoing utility tariff adjustments, strengthening social safety nets and implementing well-targeted social policies is essential to protect the most vulnerable from the adverse impacts of macroeconomic shocks.”
