Despite Africa recording marginal economic growth, the growth trajectory is not matching the job needs of the bulging youth. This is the observation of Ghana’s Minister for Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo.
The Minister says, due to the situation, Africa is sitting on one of its most dynamic resources. or its most dangerous dilemma. The continent’s exploding youthful population, once touted as its greatest hope, is now creating excess labour force outpacing its ability to create jobs fast enough to absorb them. And
Speaking in an interview with Accra-based JoyNews monitored by The High Street Journal, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, admitted that the consequences of this mismatch could be dire.
“The whole conception about job creation is very crucial for Africa. If you understand population dynamics, Africa now has the largest number of young people in the world. It is a youthful continent, and we are not developing commensurate with the population growth,” the minister indicated.
He explains that Africa has excess labour because development is not in line with the number of people emerging into the labour market, describing it as a terrible issue.
For him, not that young Africans are idle by choice. He argues that the economic train is running too slowly while the population engine is accelerating. Africa is now home to the largest youth population in the world.
This, Dr. Pelpuo warns, is more than just a labour and economic issue. It’s a potential security threat.
“We have excess labour because development is not in line with the number of people emerging into the labour market. And so, that is why we are letting some go out to work. It has become a terrible issue,” he indicated.
He added that “It’s an issue that has to be tackled, because as we all know, existing labour without jobs to do creates a problem, and people call it a national security issue.”
Across the continent, frustrations born out of joblessness are brewing into unrest, migration crises, and at times, recruitment pools for criminal networks. In other words, idle hands don’t just make mischief, they fuel instability.
The situation, Dr. Pelpuo says, must put policymakers on the continent on their toes to either find jobs for the millions joining the labour market each year, or risk losing them to dangerous sea crossings, deserts, or the dark economy.
He said, “We are in a difficult situation in Africa. We must ensure that our economies grow in line with the rapidly expanding population, or create opportunities for our youth to work—rather than watching them risk their lives through dangerous sea crossings and deserts, all in the name of searching for jobs.”
The Minister advocates that Africa’s challenge isn’t just about population. It’s about matching numbers with opportunities, ambition with access, and talent with tools. Otherwise, the overflow could become the continent’s undoing.
