In a conscious effort to address unemployment and unlock the potential of the Ghanaian youth population, UNICEF has launched the Youth Agency Marketplace (Yoma) in the country to tackle pressing challenges and empower the youth thrive in the diverse sectors of the economy, particularly in employment and entrepreneurship.

Ghana has a unique demography, with 31 per cent of its population aged between 10 and 24. These youth are sated with immense potential for economic growth yet significant challenges hinder progress.

According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2018), 47 per cent of Junior High School (JHS) students and 35 per cent of Senior High School (SHS) students complete education. Additionally, 28 per cent of boys and 33 per cent of girls are not in education, employment or training. Unemployment rate among the youth aged 15-35 now stands at 20 per cent, while 50 per cent of employed youth are underemployed.

The Generation Unlimited (GenU) Landscape Assessment for Ghana attributes this barrier to limited pre-employment services, poor-quality internships, and unfair access to opportunities.

Launched in 2020 and now a key initiative in Ghana, the Yoma platform is a dynamic digital marketplace that connects youth to a wide range of opportunities.

These include online and offline learning, social impact tasks and practical skills development to meet the demands of global and local markets.

The platform also aims to equip the youth with expertise in digital, entrepreneurial and life skills while fostering job creation through private-sector partnerships. Out-of-school youth will also be offered alternative pathways to skill development and employment.

In March 2024, as part of the effort to battle poor education among the youth, UNICEF in collaboration with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), launched a two-year project to combat child labour in Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions.

This initiative, funded by the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cocoa (SWISSCO) through the Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), addressed poverty, enhanced youth employment prospects, and improved learning outcomes in districts such as Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai, Asunafo North, Assin- South.

This has helped enhance protection, access to social services, youth unemployment prospects and learning outcomes in these cocoa-growing communities.

By investing in the skills and potential of Ghana’s youth, Yoma aims to encourage a generation of leaders capable of ensuring sustainable socio-economic growth and leading the country to a prosperous future therefore UNICEF is calling on stakeholders, development organizations as well as youth groups to join the Yoma initiative.