Ghana’s unemployment crisis has become one of the most emotionally charged issues confronting the nation today, particularly among the youth. With thousands of educated and skilled young people roaming the streets without stable jobs, frustration is mounting. What makes the situation more troubling is the growing belief that employment opportunities, especially in the public sector, are increasingly influenced by politics rather than merit.
Across the country, job seekers openly complain that party affiliation and political connections now determine who gets employed and who is left behind. This perception, whether fully accurate or not, has taken firm root in the public consciousness and continues to deepen mistrust between citizens and the state. For many young Ghanaians, hope has been replaced with bitterness and resentment.
The Ghana Education Service (GES), one of the largest public sector employers, remains at the centre of the controversy. Thousands of trained teachers continue to wait endlessly for postings, even as schools in deprived areas suffer from acute staff shortages. Allegations that postings favour politically connected individuals have further inflamed public anger and raised serious questions about fairness and transparency in recruitment.
Similar concerns trail recruitment into the security agencies. The police, immigration, fire service and other security institutions are frequently accused of opaque recruitment processes. Stories of applicants allegedly relying on political patrons or unofficial channels to secure enlistment continue to circulate, undermining the integrity of institutions meant to embody discipline, neutrality and national service.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is not immune to these challenges. Trained nurses, midwives and allied health professionals repeatedly complain about prolonged posting delays despite clear shortages in health facilities across the country. When such delays coincide with claims of selective or politically influenced recruitment, public confidence in the health system suffers.
Adding to public outrage are persistent allegations that some job seekers are being asked to pay as much as GH₵20,000 or more to secure employment in certain public institutions. These claims, widely circulated on social media, WhatsApp platforms and through personal testimonies, suggest that recruitment slots are being sold by middlemen allegedly linked to political networks. Even in the absence of widespread prosecutions, the prevalence of these allegations has reinforced the perception that money and connections now outweigh merit.
In mining communities, unemployment among local youth has become a source of growing tension. Mining companies are often accused of sidelining host communities in favour of politically connected outsiders when job opportunities arise. This has triggered protests, strained community relations and heightened distrust of both corporate operators and political authorities.
Against this backdrop, pointed questions are being directed at the NDC government. As a party that has long projected itself as pro-youth and pro-worker, expectations are understandably high. Critics argue that failure to decisively tackle unemployment and sanitize recruitment systems risks betraying the aspirations of a generation that forms a significant part of the party’s support base.
Supporters of the government counter that Ghana’s unemployment challenge is structural and long-standing, compounded by population growth, fiscal constraints and broader economic pressures. While these explanations carry weight, they offer little consolation to unemployed youth who perceive opportunity as increasingly politicised and inaccessible.
Ultimately, the politicisation and alleged monetisation of job opportunities pose a serious threat to national cohesion and democratic credibility. If young people come to believe that their future depends more on party loyalty or financial capacity than competence and hard work, the consequences could be far-reaching. Leadership must rise above partisan interests and restore fairness, transparency and trust in Ghana’s job creation and recruitment systems.
