Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Peplum, Minister of Labour, Jobs and Employment, has underscored the need for critical investments and strategic partnerships to harness Africa’s youthful population for transformative growth.
Speaking at the Conference on Advancing the Next Generation for Equitable Development of Human Capital in India, Dr Pelpuo said Africa’s demographic profile, dominated by young people, was both an asset and a challenge.
“Africa’s young population is one of her greatest assets for innovation, growth, and transformation. To turn this potential into real progress, we must equip young people with relevant education, skills, and opportunities,” he stressed.
Youth Demographic Advantage
Research indicates that 40% of Africa’s population falls within the 15–35 age bracket. However, the labour market struggles to keep up with demand, with 11 million young Africans entering the job market each year against just 3.7 million jobs created annually.
“This imbalance between demand and supply threatens the aspirations of African youth,” Dr Pelpuo warned.
Ghana’s Human Capital Strategy
From Ghana’s perspective, he said, human capital development is central to national policy. The government is scaling up education and skills training, particularly through the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to align with industry needs.
He highlighted initiatives such as the One Million Coders Programme, designed to prepare young Ghanaians for the global digital economy. “Digital literacy and ICT skills are now foundational skills,” he noted, adding that soft skills, leadership, and critical thinking were being incorporated into education reforms to nurture confident, innovative youth.
Entrepreneurship is another priority, with programmes like the National Apprenticeship Programme, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and Youth Employment Programme offering funding, mentorship, and capacity-building support.
“These initiatives empower young entrepreneurs and create sustainable jobs with ripple effects in their communities,” Dr Pelpuo explained.
Partnerships Driving Growth
Dr Pelpuo stressed that partnerships remain crucial to Africa’s human capital growth. Ghana, for example, has benefited from India’s ICT Centres of Excellence, particularly in agriculture, IT, and vocational training.
“We see great potential to expand this partnership, especially in digital skills, renewable energy, and innovation-driven enterprises, to accelerate the development of Africa’s human capital,” he said.
Challenges to Address
The Minister also raised concerns over Africa’s health sector, where brain drain continues to weaken healthcare systems. Globally, mismatched skills are another obstacle: in 2019, 54% of employers could not find the right skills for available jobs, while 187 million people worldwide were unemployed.
“Equally worrying is that 69% of employers globally say they struggle to find the right skills, while 22% of workers underutilise their skills in current jobs,” he added.
Call to Action
Dr Pelpuo urged African policymakers to take a critical look at these challenges in order to strengthen competitiveness in the global economy. “If African youth must be globally competitive, then our policy choices must reflect this urgency,” he said.
