'Unemployment requires deeper structural reforms, not slogans' – Stephen Amoah criticises 24-Hour Economy promise

MP for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah

The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Stephen Amoah, has called for a more comprehensive approach to tackling unemployment in Ghana, arguing that the country must address the underlying causes of joblessness rather than focusing on superficial solutions.

Contributing to a statement on unemployment on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the lawmaker stressed that employment challenges have not received the level of national attention they deserve despite their significant impact on the country's socio-economic development.

According to him, efforts to create jobs must begin with a proper understanding of the factors driving unemployment.

“Employment issues have not been given enough attention as a state, and it is one of the critical areas we must look at seriously. Before we can effectively address unemployment, we need to situate the issue in the right context and deal with the underlying variables and factors that have contributed to the unacceptable unemployment rate in the country,” he stated.

Mr. Amoah noted that in modern economies, sustainable job creation is largely driven by the private sector and therefore governments must create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

“Modern-day socio-economic development is centred on the private sector. The private sector must be accorded the necessary opportunities, incentives, resources, cooperation and support. Any government that does that will be able to achieve its objectives of creating more jobs for the people,” he said.

The Nhyiaeso MP further argued that Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem remains weak due to inadequate support structures and capacity-building mechanisms for entrepreneurs.

“We have a very weak entrepreneurial ecosystem as a country. The various actors within that ecosystem must be given the needed orientation, training and support. Any government in place must demonstrate readiness, preparedness and the ability to do that,” he added.

Mr. Amoah also took aim at the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) over its flagship 24-hour economy policy, questioning its implementation and effectiveness.

“The NDC's own 24-hour economy, where is it? We are not even experiencing a one-minute economy, so how can we create jobs? These points he argued.

He accused the government of failing to back its campaign promises with credible data and thorough policy research, claiming that many young people have become disillusioned.

“They lacked the requisite research and accurate data. They simply put these promises in their manifesto to deceive Ghanaians. Today, many young people have lost hope in this government,” Mr. Amoah asserted.

The MP urged government policymakers to prioritise private sector growth, entrepreneurship development and evidence-based policymaking as part of a broader strategy to tackle unemployment and restore confidence among Ghana’s youth.