“Inventory of activity does not pay rent”: Sammy Awuku faults government on unemployment

Hon. Samuel Awuku

Member of Parliament for Akuapim North has accused the government of failing to show any real improvement in youth employment in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, saying the document reads like “an inventory of activity” rather than a report on impact.

Contributing to the debate in Parliament, Hon. Awuku said young Ghanaians want to know if it is easier to find decent work, learn a skill, or build a business six months into 2026.

*“On the evidence the answer is no,”* he stated.

The MP argued that the Mid-Year Review should serve as a report card, not just a register of projects and payments.

*“Inventories Mr Speaker do not pay rent in Accra. Inventory of activity does not pay school fees or feed anyone,”* he said.

Citing figures from the Ghana Statistical Service, Hon. Awuku noted that while national unemployment was reported at 12.8% over the first three quarters of 2025, unemployment among persons aged 15 to 35 stood at 21.9%. He added that nearly 1.95 million young people are outside employment, education, or training.

*“That is a population the size of Kumasi sitting idle and doing nothing,”* he said.

He further stated that the review provides no youth employment baseline, no reduction target, and no data on the number of young people entering sustained work.

*“Government cannot ask this house to accept as progress a youth jobs record that it refuses to measure,”* Hon. Awuku said.

He called on the Finance Ministry to present clear metrics on youth jobs and show what has actually changed in the lives of young people.