2026 Budget to Prioritise Job Creation – Government Aligns with World Bank Recommendations

By Joylinda Laryea / 15 August, 2025

The Government of Ghana has announced that job creation will be the central focus of the 2026 Budget, as it prepares to roll out targeted interventions to address the country’s persistent unemployment challenge.

The announcement was made by Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem at the launch of the World Bank’s ninth Ghana Economic Update, themed “Addressing Labor Market Challenges and Opportunities in Ghana’s Economic Landscape.”

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister said the upcoming budget presents an opportunity to reshape fiscal policy around real sector development, with labour and employment taking centre stage.

“The 2026 budget will focus on jobs,” Nyarko Ampem confirmed. “I can also confirm that the Ministry of Finance has been repositioned to leverage key insights to achieve a balanced focus on the economy, with the creation of the Real Sector Division and a new Research Division to enhance evidence-based policymaking.”

The decision aligns closely with the World Bank’s latest recommendations, which urge Ghana to focus on private sector-led growth and skills development as pathways to reducing unemployment and fostering economic resilience.

As the economy gradually recovers from recent fiscal and macroeconomic pressures, the Deputy Minister outlined several initiatives already underway to directly tackle unemployment. These include the National Apprenticeship Programme, Adwumawura, and the One Million Coders programme — all designed to build a skilled and future-ready workforce.

The government plans to invest approximately GH¢564.4 million in these three programmes in 2025.

Additionally, another GH¢410 million will be allocated to the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to support youth-led enterprises and innovation.

Beyond direct interventions, the government says broader initiatives like the ‘Big Push’ for Infrastructure, Agriculture for Economic Transformation, and the 24-Hour Economy Programme will indirectly support job creation through expanded economic activity and improved productivity.

Budget hearings for the 2026 fiscal year are scheduled to begin next week, with job creation expected to dominate the agenda.