The Institute for Liberty and Economic Education (ILEE), a non-partisan, youth-led think tank dedicated to free-market principles and human prosperity, is urgently calling on the Government of Ghana to address the burgeoning youth unemployment crisis through systemic market liberalization.
The recent security service recruitment exercise serves as a stark wake-up call for the nation. With over 500,000 applicants competing for a mere 5,000 slots across the Police, Immigration, Fire, and Prison services, the desperation of the Ghanaian youth is undeniable.
“While youth in other jurisdictions often require incentives to join security services, in Ghana, it has become a fierce competition for survival,” says Mr. Eric Coffie. “This is not merely a recruitment drive; it is a clear indicator of a labor market in distress.”
ILEE acknowledges current government efforts under the National Youth Policy 2022-2032, including the work of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), the National Youth Authority (NYA), and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). However, ILEE warns that many of these interventions are becoming counterproductive by focusing on temporary “job placement” rather than sustainable wealth creation.
ILEE draws a critical distinction:
- Job Creation: Often involves expanding government bureaucracies, which increases the burden on taxpayers and stifles long-term growth.
- Wealth Creation: Driven by the private sector, this adds new value to the economy, raises the standard of living, and ensures long-term prosperity.
To move from desperation to prosperity, ILEE urges the government to pivot toward Market Liberalization. This strategy requires:
- Deregulating Key Sectors: Removing excessive barriers to entry that prevent young entrepreneurs from starting businesses.
- Fostering Competition: Allowing free-market competition to drive the innovation and productivity necessary to absorb a growing workforce.
- Reducing Bureaucratic Friction: Streamlining the regulatory environment so that the private sector—not the state—becomes the primary engine of employment.
“The government must stop trying to be the employer of last resort and instead become the facilitator of first resort,” the statement concluded. “True youth empowerment lies in a free market where innovation is rewarded, and wealth is created through productivity, not patronage.”
