NDPC: Macroeconomic Gains in 2025 Offset by Youth Unemployment and Weak Public Services

Ghana saw stronger macroeconomic performance in 2025, but the National Development Planning Commission, NDPC, says persistent youth unemployment, poor public services and weak implementation are holding back real development progress.

The warning is contained in the 2025 National Annual Progress Report, APR, launched on Thursday, July 16. The report serves as the final review of the _Agenda for Jobs II: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All_ (2022–2025) policy framework.

NDPC Chairman, Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, said the report offers an objective look at the country’s development performance and is meant to promote transparency and evidence-based policy.

He noted that while there were encouraging economic numbers, several critical areas still need urgent attention.

According to the report, Ghana recorded stronger economic growth in 2025, with inflation easing, better fiscal performance and a drop in the public debt-to-GDP ratio.

But the Commission said those gains were undercut by ongoing challenges, including high youth unemployment, poor maternal health outcomes, weak capacity to implement policies, and gaps in public service delivery.

“The report provides a balanced assessment of Ghana’s development performance,” Dr. Thompson said.

“While it records improvements in key macroeconomic indicators... it also identifies persistent challenges such as youth unemployment, maternal health outcomes, implementation capacity and public service delivery.”

NDPC Director-General, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, said the engagement with the media was to ensure stakeholders understood the findings before public release to support accurate reporting.

She explained that the report was put together using APRs submitted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Regional Coordinating Councils, and MMDAs, as well as official national data. The findings, she added, went through verification, technical review and Commission approval before publication.

Presenting an overview, the Commission’s Chief Analyst, Mr. Isaac Eweh, said the assessment looks at how the national medium-term development policy was implemented across all levels of government.

He said beyond tracking progress, the report points out implementation gaps and priority areas that need policy action.