A turning point in youth employment and sustainable agriculture

A turning point in youth employment and sustainable agriculture

Ghana stands at a moment of undeniable significance. A young and fast growing population, often described as one of the country’s greatest assets, is facing mounting challenges in securing decent employment, a core concern that mirrors the spirit of SDG 8. While the national economy remains comparatively stable within West Africa, many young graduates continue to struggle to translate their qualifications into meaningful work. The mismatch between skills and available jobs, together with intense competition for formal positions, has deepened reliance on informal labour, limiting both personal advancement and the country’s wider capacity for fair and sustainable development.

At the centre of this debate lies the agricultural sector. Long considered the backbone of rural livelihoods, it remains a paradox in Ghana’s economic structure. Agriculture absorbs a substantial share of the labour force, yet it continues to wrestle with underinvestment, outdated techniques, and infrastructural deficits. These constraints weaken domestic food production and inflate dependency on imported goods. Apples offer a particularly revealing example. Each year, Ghana spends more than 20 million dollars importing the fruit, while local production covers less than five per cent of national demand. Such dependence exposes the country to global price fluctuations and sidelines the opportunity to foster competitive value chains at home.

Yet important shifts are under way. New initiatives focused on modernising farming systems are beginning to reshape expectations, particularly in rural regions with high concentrations of unemployed youth. Among these emerging efforts is a growing wave of specialised pilot projects that seek to demonstrate the feasibility of climate adapted orchard farming in Ghana. One such example is a five acre start up apple farm model being developed in the Volta Region. With an estimated investment of between 150,000 and 200,000 dollars, the initiative combines land development with drip irrigation, organic soil preparation, hybrid seedling cultivation, and the installation of solar powered farm systems designed to improve water and energy efficiency. These ventures are structured not only to showcase production potential but also to provide technical training and employment for around 25 young farmers, offering practical experience in orchard management and modern irrigation systems.

The ambition goes further. Some of these models plan gradual expansion into larger commercial estates, targeting up to 50 acres within three years if early performance proves successful. Their long term vision includes building recognisable fruit brands, strengthening domestic supply chains, and positioning Ghana for regional agri export opportunities across the West African market. Projections suggest that such initiatives, if sustained and scaled, could reduce apple imports by around ten per cent within three years, while improving the country’s food security profile. Beyond production, they signal a shift towards sustainable agribusiness, using 100 per cent organic fertilisers and solar irrigation to align with environmentally responsible farming.

These developments illustrate how targeted agricultural innovation can unlock economic opportunity for young people while addressing the structural gaps that have long limited Ghana’s self sufficiency. They also reflect a quiet transformation in attitudes towards farming, increasingly seen not as a subsistence fallback but as a sector where modern techniques, technology, and value addition can generate significant returns.

Ghana therefore finds itself at a crossroads. The combination of demographic momentum and agricultural potential offers a rare opportunity. Creating decent work while boosting domestic food production is within reach, provided that investment, training, and rural infrastructure continue to evolve. Early examples of innovation, even if modest in size, show that progress is both possible and already emerging. For a generation seeking stability and meaningful prospects at home, these initiatives could mark the beginning of a more prosperous and sustainable national future.

For readers interested in broader regional strategies supporting climate smart farming and youth led agribusiness, more information is available through platforms such as the African Development Bank’s agriculture programmes and the CGIAR climate resilience research network.