Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. John Kumah, has reaffirmed the government's determination to confront unemployment in the country head-on.

He highlighted several initiatives by the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), all aimed at addressing the pressing issue of job scarcity.

According to the 2023 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey Third Quarter Labour Statistics Report, there's cause for concern.

The unemployment rate for the first three quarters of 2023 stood at 14.7%, marking a 1.1% increase from the previous year's 13.6%. Particularly noteworthy is the disparity between male and female unemployment rates, with the female rate consistently being higher.

He was speaking at the media launch at the Wealth and Jobs Expo in Accra on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

Dr. John Kumah acknowledged this gender gap, pointing out the notable rise in female unemployment between 2022 and 2023. Nevertheless, he stressed the government's dedication to attracting investments and nurturing an environment conducive to job creation.

He underscored the crucial role of entrepreneurship in tackling the unemployment crisis, urging confidence in the potential of entrepreneurship to propel economic expansion and mitigate joblessness.

“The Ghana Statistical Service on Wednesday announced that about 1.5 million Ghanaian youth are unemployed. Last year, E-levy generated GH¢1.19 billion and as part of dealing with the job situation… unemployment situation, government has committed funds through YouStart from this E-levy sources…to GEA and NEIP to address the unemployment situation in the country, and I am happy to announce that institutions like Wealth and Jobs Expo and all private groups that are willing to help create jobs in the private sector will also be supported to help create jobs and businesses in the private sector,” he said.

Speaking on the sideline of the event, the Co-ordinator for the Wealth & Jobs Agency, Arnold Asafu-Adjaye explained that the event is “about making sure that we create opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive.”

“So many people have opportunities in their fingers, right here, they have ideas. How do they turn those ideas into reality? As difficult as it sounds, it's achievable. You need money, you need resources, you need administrative support, legal, so forth and so on. So those are the sort of things that the Wealth and Jobs provide," he told journalists at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

The event was also attended by notable figures such as Registrar General Jemima Oware, CEO of Ghana Free Zones Authority Michael Oquaye Jnr, actor and entrepreneur John Dumelo, and CEO of Sarps Logistics Maame Akua Poku Sarpong, Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu.

It was chaired by astute businessman, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong.