Ghana has launched a US$71 million employment programme backed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at creating more than 34,000 jobs through skills development, enterprise support and improved access to finance.
The Ghana Women and Youth Employment and Social Cohesion Programme (GWYESCO), launched in Accra in June 2026, will run until 2029 and focus on women, young people and vulnerable communities facing unemployment, limited economic opportunities and barriers to accessing funding.
The programme, implemented by the Social Investment Fund under Ghana’s Ministry of Finance, is designed to combine vocational training, entrepreneurship support, business financing and social cohesion measures to promote inclusive economic growth.
Officials said the initiative is expected to create about 28,000 direct jobs and an additional 6,000 indirect jobs through businesses and economic activities supported under the programme.
A key component of GWYESCO will be the renovation and upgrading of 10 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centres across the country. The facilities will provide training in areas including artificial intelligence, digital skills, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as creative industries.
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Participants will also receive entrepreneurship training, business development support and financial literacy education aimed at improving their ability to secure employment or establish sustainable enterprises.
The programme responds to persistent challenges in Ghana’s labour market, where young people continue to experience higher levels of unemployment and underemployment, while many women-led businesses struggle to access affordable financing and business support.
By linking skills training with access to capital and enterprise development, the initiative seeks to move beyond traditional employment programmes by helping beneficiaries create and grow businesses.
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The programme will also support women and youth involved in agricultural value chains, including poultry, fisheries, livestock and beekeeping, sectors that provide important sources of income for rural communities.
Special attention will be given to Northern Ghana, where poverty rates and unemployment levels remain higher compared with other parts of the country.
The AfDB said the programme is designed to strengthen economic inclusion, reduce regional inequalities and improve access to opportunities for groups that have historically faced barriers in education, finance and employment.
Development partners say expanding technical skills and entrepreneurship opportunities will be critical as Ghana seeks to prepare its workforce for a changing economy driven increasingly by technology, innovation and private-sector growth.
The initiative also aligns with wider national efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, support small businesses and increase productive employment opportunities for young people.
Through GWYESCO, authorities hope to improve job creation while supporting vulnerable communities to participate more actively in Ghana’s economic development.
