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The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of presiding over rising job losses while failing to deliver on its flagship 24-hour economy promise, describing the situation as a major policy collapse one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, the Minority said unemployment and underemployment remain the top concerns of Ghanaians, particularly among the youth, despite repeated assurances of job creation through the proposed round-the-clock economic model.
According to the Minority, more than a million young people remain unemployed or underemployed, while reports of dismissals within the public service have worsened household hardship. They alleged that directives linked to the Office of the Chief of Staff had led to the removal of thousands of public servants, contradicting government promises of expanding employment opportunities.
The group said the human cost of joblessness was tragically highlighted during a recent recruitment exercise at the El Wak Stadium, where job seekers reportedly crowded into unsafe conditions, leading to a deadly stampede. The Minority said the incident underscored the desperation facing young people and the failure of the government to manage employment initiatives responsibly.
They argued that the 24-hour economy, which was touted as a transformative policy to create continuous shifts and expand productivity, has yet to translate into clear programmes, timelines or measurable results. Instead, they said, government communication has focused on slogans rather than implementation.
Beyond jobs, the Minority linked unemployment challenges to broader governance concerns, including alleged economic mismanagement and lack of accountability. They said resources lost through poorly managed state programmes could have been used to support job creation, skills development and small businesses.
The Minority also criticised the government for what it described as selective accountability, insisting that public officials linked to current economic challenges have not been subjected to the same scrutiny as former appointees.
They called on the government to present a clear, costed roadmap for the 24-hour economy and to halt politically motivated dismissals in the public sector. According to the Minority, restoring confidence requires policies that create sustainable jobs rather than promises that remain unfulfilled.
