Accra: The Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP) has called for a sweeping overhaul of Ghana's public sector recruitment system, urging authorities to adopt a merit-based, transparent, and fee-free model to restore credibility and fairness.
According to Ghana Web, during a press conference under the theme 'E-Merit Recruitment Saga: From Hope to Heartbreak,' Dr. Kwasi Nyame-Baafi, a Director of IERPP, highlighted significant structural weaknesses in Ghana's labor market despite minor improvements in unemployment rates. He noted that while unemployment declined from 14.9 percent in 2023 to 13.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, youth unemployment continues to rise alarmingly, with rates reaching 32 percent among those aged 15 to 24.
Dr. Nyame-Baafi emphasized that seven out of every ten unemployed individuals in Ghana are young people, exacerbated by high NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) rates of 25.8 percent for ages 15-24. He also pointed out disparities between urban and rural labor markets, with urban unemployment at 15.9 percent, compared to 10.4 percent in rural areas due to congestion and weak job absorption in major growth hubs.
He referenced the 'Jobs for All' agenda by the National Democratic Congress, noting significant implementation gaps, particularly in security services recruitment. The recent security recruitment exercise, intended to be technology-driven, revealed infrastructure inequalities, with only 20 percent of applicants completing the process due to connectivity issues.
Dr. Nyame-Baafi questioned the financial structure of the recruitment exercise, which generated an estimated GHS110 million from over 500,000 applicants, yet only recruited 5,000 individuals. He warned that high-volume, low-conversion recruitment models might become revenue tools rather than genuine employment solutions.
He raised governance concerns about the centralization of recruitment at the ministerial level and inconsistencies in eligibility and financial clearance. The IERPP is calling for an independent investigation into the recruitment process, focusing on financial flows, procurement, technology systems, and outcomes.