The Chairman of the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has warned that Ghana’s youth are losing confidence in the country due to economic mismanagement and corruption.

He called for urgent action to restore hope and put the nation on a path to economic recovery.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day National Economic Dialogue (NED) 2025 at the Accra International Conference Centre today March 3 2025, Mr Yamson expressed concern that many young Ghanaians, whom he described as “Generation Hustlers,” have lost faith in the country’s leadership and are eager to leave in search of better opportunities abroad.

“This is not the Ghana our forefathers fought for. Our young people no longer see a future here, and that is dangerous,” he said.

He attributed the situation to years of poor governance, widespread corruption, and economic instability, which have led to rising unemployment, a collapsed manufacturing sector, and growing reliance on imported goods.

“Our politics today is driven by power, personal gain, and arrogance. Corruption is pervasive, and state institutions are weak. This has left young people with no choice but to look elsewhere for a future,” he stated.

Mr Yamson acknowledged the impact of external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruptions but stressed that “the overwhelming majority of our problems are homegrown and self-inflicted.”

“We cannot afford to delay the task of resetting Ghana. If we fail to act now, we will pay the price in the future,” he cautioned.

The National Economic Dialogue 2025, themed “Resetting Ghana: Building the Economy We Want Together,” is part of a 120-day social contract with Ghanaians.

It seeks to address pressing economic challenges, discuss policy trade-offs, and build consensus on necessary reforms to achieve sustainable growth.

Mr Yamson urged that the dialogue be institutionalised to ensure its recommendations translate into tangible action rather than being reduced to yet another talk shop.

He called on political leaders to take responsibility and act decisively, stating that “Ghanaians are tired of poverty and hardship.”