Seeds of instability
Ghana’s Defence Minister links youth unemployment and poverty to extremism, advocating grassroots solutions.
Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, highlighted youth unemployment and poverty as key drivers of violent extremism in Ghana and the Sahel during the Sahel Peace Initiative forum. He stressed the importance of grassroots conflict solutions, noting economic exclusion as a destabilising factor. The Ghana Armed Forces plans to recruit 12,000 youths over 3.5 years to mitigate this. However, an ISSER report finds government employment efforts since 2015 largely ineffective due to skills mismatches, limited quality jobs, and insufficient youth participation in programme design. ISSER urges a comprehensive employment policy with greater youth involvement.
Ghana's escalating youth unemployment crisis is increasingly considered a significant national security threat. An estimated two million young people are currently disengaged from education, employment, or training. The situation is particularly acute in the northern regions, where economic activity is virtually absent, leaving many youths unable even to be classified as underemployed. High fertility rates continue to swell the youth population, exacerbating this challenge.
Instability is frequent in border towns, where idle youth are vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups offering promises of livelihood. Approximately three in ten young people in these areas are unemployed, out of school, or not in training. Many young women migrate southward, often ending up in exploitative, low-wage employment and facing heightened risks of homelessness, abuse, and violence.
Successive governments have launched youth employment programmes, but most have failed to secure a lasting impact, with sustainability being the principal obstacle. Former President John Mahama has proposed regionally balanced recruitment into security services, allocating quotas to Ghana’s 16 regions to foster inclusivity and reduce marginalisation.
Ghana remains a beacon of democratic stability in West Africa, but this is increasingly under threat as regional security deteriorates. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger grapple with persistent insurgency, with cross-border extremist activity spilling into Ghana’s northern border communities. Official estimates place youth unemployment or underemployment above one million, with many others engaged in precarious informal work, lacking upward mobility. Economic stagnation, especially in the north, fuels frustration and hopelessness among youth, creating fertile ground for radicalisation and recruitment by violent extremist groups. Extremists exploit economic vulnerability by offering money, belonging, and purpose. The border with Burkina Faso is increasingly volatile, with attacks inching closer to Ghanaian soil, risking Ghana’s entanglement in the wider Sahel insurgency. Where youth feel neglected, extremist ideologies risk filling the vacuum. Failure to engage young people constructively could radicalise an entire generation.
Strategic recommendations include scaling up labour-intensive public works and youth apprenticeship schemes, prioritising high-risk zones such as the Upper East and North East regions. Support for agribusiness cooperatives and green jobs should target unemployed graduates and school leavers. District Security Councils (DISECs) should partner with traditional leaders, women’s groups, and youth networks to establish early warning systems. The National Peace Council’s mandate ought to be expanded to incorporate Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) interventions. Peace education, conflict resolution, and citizenship programmes should be promoted in schools. Efforts to counter extremist narratives must utilise social media and religious platforms with relatable, pro-social messaging. Enhanced surveillance and coordination with joint border task forces are essential, coupled with development incentives for border communities. Security personnel require training in community engagement and human rights protocols to build trust. Youth participation in district planning and economic initiatives must be encouraged. Additionally, fighting corruption and improving service delivery are crucial to reinforcing public confidence in the state.
Violent extremism cannot be defeated by force alone. Ghana’s best defence lies in empowered youth, inclusive economic growth, and resilient communities. Economic injustice is not solely a development issue; it constitutes a security risk. By prioritising employment creation and social cohesion, Ghana can prevent extremist ideologies from gaining traction and preserve its hard-won peace.