The Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Joshua Ansah, has called on government to prioritise the private sector as the most sustainable solution to Ghana’s unemployment challenges.
Speaking at the May Day celebrations on Friday, May 1, 2026, Mr Ansah said although government-led job creation remains important, long-term employment growth will depend on a strong and productive private sector.
He warned that Ghana’s heavy reliance on imports is hurting job creation, noting that the country is effectively “exporting jobs” due to the large volume of foreign goods flooding the local market.
According to him, there is an urgent need to invest more in manufacturing and agro-processing to boost local production and create jobs on a large scale. He explained that strengthening these sectors would also reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Mr Ansah stressed that achieving this will require deliberate government policies to support sectoral diversification and make local industries more competitive.
He further criticised the current economic structure, saying it favours imports while making it difficult for local producers to grow, thereby limiting the expansion of indigenous businesses.
The TUC Secretary-General therefore urged government to place the private sector at the centre of its job creation strategy, insisting that supporting local industries remains the most viable way to tackle unemployment in the medium to long term.
Credit: Citinewsroom
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