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President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has cast doubt on the economic relevance of the Mahama administration’s flagship job creation programmes, urging the government to back its employment agenda with measurable value to national productivity.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, May 10, the policy think tank head warned that the country risks sinking scarce resources into high-profile schemes that lack the structural depth to transform Ghana’s economy.
He specifically cited the Adwumawura Programme, One Million Coders, and the National Apprenticeship Programme, which are projected to cost nearly GH₵200 million, as initiatives that may not yield the intended long-term benefits without clearly defined economic linkages.
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“These are well-intentioned programmes, but what is their actual impact? What sectors are they feeding into? How do they enhance productivity?” Cudjoe asked.
Cudjoe stressed that while addressing unemployment is a priority, job creation should not be reduced to populist gestures or political milestones.
“You create jobs not just to reduce idleness but to stimulate sectors of the economy — agriculture, manufacturing, and tech — in a way that supports sustainable development,” he explained.
He criticised the government’s approach as being “disconnected from Ghana’s real economic needs”, warning that simply rolling out programmes without clear performance metrics could lead to wasteful spending.
The IMANI boss urged policymakers to adopt a more evidence-based, value-for-money approach to national employment schemes.
“If we are spending GH₵200 million, there should be detailed indicators: number of jobs created, sectors impacted, skills acquired, and economic outputs. Anything less is unacceptable,” he argued.
Cudjoe’s comments come as President Mahama’s administration continues to promote its 120-day record, touting the job programmes as part of a larger plan to tackle youth unemployment.
However, with Ghana’s economy still grappling with inflation, public debt, and weak job absorption in key sectors, analysts say the real test lies in how well these investments translate into productivity and economic transformation.
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