Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Bright Wireko-Brobby, says government created 5.3 million jobs in the first term of the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

According to the Hemang Lower Denkyira MP, an analysis of data assembled by the ministry from the inputs of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and government’s flagship programmes indicates that an estimated 5,306,899 jobs were created by the administration between 2017 and 2021.

“Government acknowledges that these jobs are either formal or informal, permanent or temporary and full-time or part-time,” he added.

The Minister said addressing the problem of unemployment has become a major preoccupation of government.

He said that government has been able to make tremendous gains in job creation over the years through fruitful collaborations and partnerships with the private sector and development partners.

Mr Wireko-Brobby was speaking at this year’s Ghana Job Fair dubbed “Green Edition” in Tamale.

The fair was organised by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Ghanaian-German Centre, Youth Employment Agency (YEA) and Labour Department.

The job fair provides opportunities for job seekers to acquire the necessary skills and mindset for innovative and sustainable job opportunities.

The deputy minister expressed delight that this year’s edition focuses on creating an enabling environment for the promotion of sustainable green jobs.

He said the Ghana Job Fair - Green Edition is also anchored on government’s “Agenda for Jobs: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All” policy, which is being implemented from 2017 until 2024.

Mr Wireko-Brobby said the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is positioned to create the enabling environment for all relevant stakeholders to foster linkages and build synergies for job creation.

He explained that there’s been the establishment of the National Employment Coordinating Committee (NECC) to coordinate employment creation programmes and projects.

He, however, assured that youth employment and entrepreneurship remain a priority of government, not only now, but also in the long-term.

"The roll-out of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), Youth Employment Programme, One-District-One-Factory Initiative, and Planting for Food and Jobs programme are just a few of the grand examples of government’s job creation efforts", he said.

"The newly introduced YouStart initiative would also complement existing programmes to create more decent opportunities for the youth", he assured.

“As a responsible government, we would continue to roll out more programmes and interventions to give hope to the teeming youth who hitherto were in a state of despair,” the deputy minister added.

The Hemang Lower Denkyira MP said there is a need for jobs that guarantee adequate income security, and social security, provide adequate social protection, protect and promote the rights of workers, encourage unionisation and promote social dialogue.

“In this day and age, we cannot have jobs that deliver wages below the prevailing national minimum wage. If for nothing at all, we should strive to secure the welfare and wellbeing of vulnerable workers in pursuit of the green agenda,” Mr Wireko-Brobby said.

The Head of the Ghanaian-German Centre (GGC), Benjamin Woesten also noted that the German government is committed to helping create more employment for Ghanaian youth.

He said the measure will help curb dangerous and irregular migration of the youth from Ghana.