Dr Kofi Amoah Urges Government to Prioritise Job Creation
Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist Dr. Kofi Amoah strongly advises the government to put job creation first in its national development plans. He stated that providing decent, well-paying jobs is the most critical factor for a country's economic health, social peace, and overall progress. These remarks follow recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that affected Ghanaian citizens there. Dr. Amoah highlighted that many young Africans leave their homes out of economic necessity, not desire.
He believes that if Ghana offered enough good jobs, fewer young people would seek opportunities elsewhere. Dr. Amoah, a long-time advocate for entrepreneurship and economic improvement, sees jobs as more than just income. They are the basis for dignity, security, and hope in society. He underlined that history shows successful nations are those that create meaningful work for their people. A population with good jobs sees a decrease in social problems. Conversely, job scarcity leads to higher poverty, crime, and instability.
Dr. Amoah pointed to economic powers like the United States, China, India, Germany, France, and Italy. He noted their growth is largely due to their success in keeping most citizens productively employed. He argues that Ghana's large number of unemployed and underemployed youth requires immediate and serious attention. He specifically called on President John Dramani Mahama's administration to make job creation the central focus of the Reset Agenda.
"LET THE CREATION OF JOBS JUMP TO THE TOP OF THE RESET AGENDA to help ease the plight of Ghana's reserve army of the jobless," Dr. Amoah declared. He described Ghana's young unemployed population as a valuable national asset. Their potential contribution to development, he stated, is more significant than the country's natural resources like gold and bauxite. He feels their worth surpasses that of the minerals found underground.
Beyond Ghana, Dr. Amoah is urging African governments to rethink their economic strategies. He wants employment generation to be a core part of public policy, education, and national planning. He believes the continent's economic transformation will remain out of reach without deliberate efforts to equip young Africans with skills and connect them to jobs. Dr. Amoah also challenges the idea that only the private sector should create jobs. He insists governments must take greater responsibility for creating the conditions and opportunities for large-scale employment.
"We must jettison the preferred slogan that the private sector is the engine of growth and government is only there to provide an enabling environment," he argued. He emphasized that if jobs are the path to economic prosperity and governments manage national resources, they must ensure good jobs are available for everyone. Dr. Amoah remains hopeful that this challenge can be met with commitment and political will. He stated, "We can do this if we want it, wish it and desire it." As African leaders face unemployment and migration, his message is clear: sustainable progress starts with jobs, and governments should measure their success by their ability to put people to work.