1.3m unemployed youth a national security threat

The Minister for Youth Development and Employment, George Opare Addo, has warned that rising youth unemployment poses a serious national security threat, urging collective action to address the growing challenge.

Speaking in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, December 18, the Minister described the unemployment situation among young people as alarming, stressing that it should be a major concern for all Ghanaians.

“The number of unemployed people is a scary situation. It is a big national security threat, and all of us must be worried about the rising trend of youth unemployment,” Opare Addo said, adding that the government is taking steps to significantly reduce the numbers.

His comments come against the backdrop of new data from the Ghana Statistical Service, which shows that more than 1.3 million young Ghanaians were out of work, school, or training in the third quarter of 2025.

According to the GSS, about 1.3 million people aged 15 to 24, representing 21.5% of the age group, were classified as not in education, employment, or training, raising concerns about labour market pressures and widening skills gaps.

The Minister assured the public that the government is intensifying efforts to curb youth unemployment and re-engage young people in productive economic activities, as part of broader measures to safeguard national stability.