Gov’t’s Work Abroad Programme Offers New Pathways for Youth Jobs
Ghana’s government is banking on its Work Abroad Programme (WAP) to tackle persistent youth unemployment by creating safe, structured opportunities for Ghanaians to work overseas.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presenting the 2025 mid-year budget to Parliament, said the programme rolled out in March has already advertised 4,100 openings in 10 occupational categories within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) labour market. Jobs range from factory hands, masons, and warehouse workers to virtual assistants, taxi drivers, and farm hands.
The government has pledged to ratify existing labour agreements with Qatar, UAE, and Jordan and negotiate new deals with additional countries to expand placements. The aim is to formalise labour migration, strengthen protections for migrant workers, and create safer pathways for young Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad.
For the country’s large unemployed youth population, the initiative represents a rare chance to earn stable incomes, gain international work experience, and send remittances home. With youth unemployment estimated at over 20%, the WAP could relieve pressure on the domestic labour market in the short term.
However, analysts warn of long-term risks. Ghana continues to grapple with brain drain, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, engineering, and technology. While the WAP targets mostly low- and mid-skilled roles, experts caution that without parallel efforts to expand domestic job creation, the outflow of talent could deepen.
The Finance Minister insists the programme prioritises worker welfare, with measures including pre-departure orientation and bilateral agreements designed to safeguard migrants’ rights. “We are formalising the export of Ghanaian labour to create safer, legal migration channels that protect our people,” Dr. Forson told lawmakers.
As the first group of successful applicants prepares for deployment by the end of 2025, the WAP could become a lifeline for many unemployed Ghanaians. But whether it can balance immediate relief with the long-term goal of retaining talent at home remains an open question.
