Accra: The Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Development has called for urgent and sustained investment in Ghana's youth. It has also warned that the country risks missing a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' to harness its demographic dividend without bold action.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Chairperson of the Caucus, emphasized Ghana's pivotal moment in its demographic transition during her statement on the Floor of Parliament to commemorate World Population Day 2026. She highlighted the 2021 Population and Housing Census and current projections, indicating Ghana's population had reached approximately 34.4 million. She noted that nearly 12 million Ghanaians, about one-third, are young people between ages 15 and 35, presenting a historic opportunity for economic growth and national development through the demographic dividend. However, she stressed that this potential could only be realized through sustained investments in human capital.
Madam Appiagyei, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asokwa, outlined several challenges threatening youth potential. She pointed to unemployment, citing 2025 national labor statistics that showed one in four young people aged 15-35 were not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), with young women disproportionately affected. Additionally, she mentioned a skills gap, noting that many employers report shortages of appropriately skilled workers despite high youth unemployment.
She revealed that 15.2 percent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 have ever been pregnant, according to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Other barriers identified included mental health concerns, digital inequalities, limited access to financing for young entrepreneurs, and barriers to quality reproductive health services.
These challenges, she stated, are not only social concerns but also development challenges affecting productivity, economic growth, and national competitiveness. Madam Appiagyei endorsed calls by the National Population Council and other stakeholders for increased investment in quality and inclusive education, technical, vocational, and digital skills development, youth employment and entrepreneurship, and swift clearance of family planning commodities from the port. She also emphasized strengthening primary healthcare, domestic health financing, budget allocation for adolescent reproductive health programming, mental health and social protection programmes, innovation, research, and technology, and robust population and data systems for evidence-based policymaking.
The Chairperson reiterated the importance of Parliament's role in legislation, budget approval, and oversight, emphasizing a shared sense of responsibility for youth development. She called on development partners, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen collaboration to empower Ghana's youth.
Madam Appiagyei noted that Ghana's Revised National Population Policy, Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy for young people, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union's Agenda 2063 all affirm that investing in young people is the surest pathway to inclusive national development.
The world commemorated World Population Day on July 11, 2026, under the global theme, 'Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People: Today and for the Future,' while Ghana's national theme was 'Investing in Ghana's Future through Healthy, Skilled, and Empowered Young People.'
MPs such as Mr. Patrick Boamah, the NPP MP for Okaikwei Central, called for increased and targeted investment in Ghana's youth for sustained development. Mr. Frank Afriyie, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Afadzato South, welcomed plans to improve maternal and child health delivery in deprived communities.