A new digital platform, Ayuda, has been launched to address Ghana’s rising youth unemployment by connecting users with skilled local artisans, such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and more.

At the official unveiling of the Ayuda App, Laurinda Soreano, Head of Business and Marketing at Ayuda, made an urgent call for stronger public-private collaboration to combat unemployment and poverty.

“With over 7 million Ghanaians living in multidimensional poverty, we cannot afford to treat youth unemployment as business as usual,” she said.

She continued, “In today’s digital world, everything should be accessible online. We don’t want a situation where, after finishing school or completing a technical course, young people are left at home. If you have the expertise and capabilities, you can work. You can work for yourself. You don’t need to be employed by a company to start earning money at the end of the month. We believe in empowering individuals to take charge of their own futures.”

Her remarks come in the wake of the Ghana Statistical Service’s latest Multidimensional Poverty Report, which paints a sobering picture: 7.3 million people—approximately 24.3% of households—are now classified as multi-dimensionally poor. This statistic reflects not only economic hardship but also a lack of access to essential services, employment, and education.

Ayuda seeks to digitise access to the informal sector, empowering skilled individuals—particularly the youth—to find work and generate income.

Vanessa Baah Williams, Head of Customer Services at Ayuda, added, “Whether you’re a student looking for part-time work or someone who’s unemployed and ready to start your own business, Ayuda provides a platform for you to thrive.”

With joblessness at an all-time high, stakeholders from various sectors are rallying behind tech-driven solutions to address the root causes of poverty and unemployment in the country.