The Institute for Liberty and Economic Education (ILEE), a non-partisan, youth-led think tank dedicated to free-market principles and human prosperity, is calling on the Government of Ghana to address the growing youth unemployment crisis through systemic market liberalisation.
In a statement, the Institute bemoaned the recent security service recruitment exercise, which saw more than 500,000 applicants compete for just 5,000 positions across the Police, Immigration, Fire and Prisons services.
The Institute observed that this should serve as a “wake-up call” to authorities, highlighting the scale of youth unemployment in the country.
“While youth in other jurisdictions often require incentives to join security services, in Ghana it has become a fierce competition for survival,” said Eric Coffie, Executive Director of ILEE.
“This is not merely a recruitment drive; it is a clear indicator of a labour market in distress,” Mr Coffie added.
ILEE acknowledged ongoing government efforts under the National Youth Policy (2022–2032), including initiatives by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), the National Youth Authority (NYA), and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).
However, it warned that many of these interventions risk becoming counterproductive by focusing on temporary “job placement” rather than sustainable wealth creation.
The Institute drew a distinction between job creation and wealth creation. It said job creation often involves expanding government bureaucracies, increasing the burden on taxpayers and potentially constraining long-term growth. By contrast, wealth creation—driven by the private sector—adds value to the economy, raises living standards, and supports long-term prosperity.
ILEE urged the government to shift its focus towards market liberalisation to move “from desperation to prosperity.”
It proposed deregulating key sectors by removing barriers that limit young entrepreneurs, fostering competition to drive innovation and productivity, and reducing bureaucratic constraints to enable the private sector to become the main source of employment.
“The government must stop trying to be the employer of last resort and instead become the facilitator of first resort,” the statement said.
“True youth empowerment lies in a free market where innovation is rewarded and wealth is created through productivity, not patronage.”
