UNICEF Calls for Urgent Investment in Ghana’s Children to Secure Future Growth
Following the Day of the African Child, commemorated globally on June 16, UNICEF Ghana has renewed calls for bold investments in Ghana’s youngest generation, stressing that the nation’s long-term economic prospects depend on how it prepares today’s children for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
With children making up about 45% of Ghana’s population, UNICEF warns that failure to act decisively could undermine national development goals. The agency notes that by 2050, 4 in every 10 children globally will live in Africa — a shift that positions the continent, and Ghana in particular, at the center of the world’s future workforce and consumer base.
“This Day of the African Child is more than just a commemoration; it’s a critical call to action,” said Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Ghana Country Representative. “We face an urgent need to invest in foundational learning, health, nutrition, protection, digital inclusion, and job-readiness. Equipping this generation is essential not just for them to survive, but to truly thrive.”
The Day of the African Child, which honours the brave students of the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa, continues to spotlight the need for education equity, child protection, and inclusive growth. In Ghana, the call resonates amid rising demand for investments in human capital to drive economic transformation.
UNICEF urged governments, businesses, and communities to intensify efforts to deliver quality education, healthcare, and digital inclusion, while creating dignified employment pathways for young people.
Stakeholders agree that Africa’s youth bulge presents both a risk and an opportunity. Without decisive investment, experts caution, Ghana could face increased unemployment, social instability, and stalled economic growth. But with the right policies and private sector engagement, the country could unlock massive demographic dividends, fueling innovation and sustainable prosperity.
