Emeritus Professor Ernest Aryeetey, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, has described youth unemployment as the country’s most pressing economic challenge, blaming the problem on an education system that fails to equip young people with employable skills.

Prof. Aryeetey said Ghana’s education structure is poorly aligned with the realities of the job market and needs a complete overhaul if the country is to make meaningful progress in tackling joblessness among its youth.

“What is the biggest economic problem that we see in Ghana today? For me, it is youth unemployment. That, for me, is the biggest problem that we face,” he said.

He argued that addressing the crisis requires going “back to basics” to fix structural weaknesses in the education system, especially at the basic and secondary levels, where students should be trained to become more versatile and productive.

“There is enough research being done, not only in Ghana but across Africa, that shows the kind of education we can provide at the basic, Junior High, and Senior High levels to produce students who are productive and adaptable,” he explained.

The former Vice Chancellor criticised Ghana’s overemphasis on university education, saying it has created a system that values degrees over practical skills.

“They don’t need a university degree to be able to do things. But we’ve built a system that takes us all into the university. It is wrong, and it will always be wrong,” he stressed.

He made these comments on Channel One TV.

Recent data from the Ghana Statistical Service indicates that more than one in five young people aged 15–35 are jobless, with many graduates struggling to find employment after school.

He urged policymakers to pay attention to evidence-based education reforms that align classroom learning with market needs, arguing that only a well-structured system can provide young people with the tools to drive Ghana’s development.