In a landmark collaboration to combat youth unemployment, the World Bank has pledged its support to Ghana’s ambitious new Growth and Jobs Strategy, which aims to generate over 500,000 jobs each year for the country’s burgeoning youth population.

The commitment was cemented during a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., between the World Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, and Ghana’s newly appointed Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (MP). The strategic partnership signals a shared priority: creating economic opportunities that are not just available, but also sustainable and inclusive.

“This initiative reflects our shared priority of unlocking opportunities for young people,” Bjerde noted. “We are proud to work with Ghana on a strategy that will create jobs and build a stronger, more resilient economy.”

The strategy, still in development, will focus on job creation, skills development, and driving inclusive economic growth to ensure young Ghanaians entering the job market each year find productive and dignified employment.

With youth unemployment reaching concerning levels in recent years, Ghana’s government has sought international backing to roll out bold, targeted interventions. Finance Minister Dr. Forson described the partnership as a significant step toward economic transformation.

“This partnership is a major step forward in our efforts to provide decent and sustainable jobs for our youth,” he said. 

The strategy is expected to prioritize sectors such as agriculture, ICT, fashion, manufacturing, and green energy, while equipping youth with market-relevant skills through training and entrepreneurship programs.