Accra, Ghana – The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has criticized the government’s 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, arguing that it fails to demonstrate any meaningful improvement in the lives of young Ghanaians.
Contributing to the debate in Parliament, Hon. Awuku said young people are asking a simple but important question: whether it has become easier in 2026 to find decent employment, acquire practical skills, or build sustainable businesses.
“Six months into 2026, is it easier to find decent work in Ghana, learn a useful skill, or build a business that survives? On the evidence, the answer is no,” he stated.
According to him, the mid-year review presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is “an inventory of activity, not a record of impact.”
He argued that listing government programmes and expenditures is not enough if they do not translate into improved livelihoods.
“An inventory of activity does not pay rent in Accra. It does not pay school fees or feed anyone. A mid-year review should be a report card, not a register of activities.”
Hon. Awuku questioned the government’s youth employment claims, noting that while the review referenced improvements in the labour market, unemployment among Ghanaians aged 15 to 35 remains at 21.9%, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. He said nearly 1.95 million young people are outside employment, education, or training, describing the situation as a national tragedy.
He also challenged the government’s claim of creating 800,000 jobs, arguing that the figures cannot be independently verified because the review does not distinguish between projected employment and actual jobs created.
“In Ghana, we don’t pay rent with a World Bank formula,” he remarked, insisting that young people need real jobs rather than statistical projections.
The Akuapem North MP further criticized the implementation of the National Apprenticeship Programme. While acknowledging that 4,350 people had enrolled and GH¢45 million had been disbursed, he noted that the review failed to indicate how many participants completed the programme, received certification, obtained tools, or secured employment afterward.
He also questioned the government’s One Million Coders Programme, saying that although thousands had registered and completed at least one training module, completing a single module does not amount to a qualification or guarantee employment.
Turning to youth development funding, Hon. Awuku accused the government of failing to adequately resource the National Youth Authority despite statutory provisions requiring it to receive a share of national revenue. He argued that the authority continues to receive far less than what it is legally entitled to.
He concluded by expressing concern over the government’s renewed focus on the 24-hour market initiative, suggesting it appears to have replaced the broader 24-hour economy agenda promised to Ghanaians.
The debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review continues in Parliament as Members from both the Majority and Minority scrutinize the government’s economic performance and policy implementation.
