Africa’s job creation challenge has evolved into a critical national security issue, according to Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo. In a discussion on JoyNews’ AM Show, Dr. Pelpuo emphasised that the continent’s inability to generate adequate employment opportunities for its rapidly growing youth population poses significant risks to stability and development.
“The concept of job creation is crucial for Africa. Currently, the continent has the largest number of young people in the world. We are a youthful continent, yet our development is not keeping pace with population growth,” he stated.
Dr. Pelpuo warned that Africa is facing a situation he described as “excess labor,” which refers to the disparity between the number of young people entering the labor market and the available jobs. “We have excess labor because development is not aligned with the number of individuals entering the labor market. This has become a serious issue,” he explained.
He further cautioned that the consequences of this mismatch extend beyond economic stagnation. “This is a problem that must be addressed because, as we know, a surplus of labor without jobs leads to challenges, and people classify it as a national security issue.”
Dr Pelpuo noted that the lack of viable job opportunities is pushing many young Africans to seek work abroad, often undertaking perilous journeys through deserts and across dangerous seas.
“We are in a difficult situation in Africa. We must ensure that our economies grow in line with the rapidly expanding population, or create opportunities for our youth to work—rather than watching them risk their lives through dangerous sea crossings and deserts, all in the name of searching for jobs.”
He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the issue head-on.
“So, it’s a critical issue that we are tackling,” he concluded.
By: Kareen Tei
