Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist Dr. Kofi Amoah has strongly urged African governments to place job creation at the core of their national development strategies, emphasizing its critical role in fostering economic prosperity, social stability, and national progress. His recent social media pronouncements follow a surge in xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have disproportionately affected African migrants working in the country.
Context of the Renewed Call
The recent repatriation of over 300 Ghanaian nationals from South Africa, following incidents of harassment and abuse by anti-immigrant groups, has highlighted a persistent issue across the continent. Dr. Amoah views these disturbing events as a stark indicator of a deeper challenge: the inability of many African nations to generate sufficient opportunities for their own citizens.
He posits that many young Africans are compelled to leave their home countries not by choice, but by economic necessity and the pursuit of a better future. “If Ghana offered decent-paying jobs and living wages to the majority of its young people, many would not feel compelled to leave home in search of greener pastures elsewhere,” Dr. Amoah stated.
Jobs as the Foundation of Society
Dr. Amoah, a long-time advocate for entrepreneurship and economic transformation, views jobs as more than just a source of income. He asserts they are the bedrock of societal dignity, security, and hope. “JOBS, the wellspring of people’s welfare, must not be toyed with,” he stressed.
History, according to Dr. Amoah, consistently demonstrates that prosperous nations are those that successfully create meaningful employment for their populations. He argues that a high rate of employment correlates with a reduction in social problems, while job scarcity often leads to increased poverty, crime, frustration, and migration pressures.
Lessons from Global Economies
Drawing parallels with leading global economies such as the United States, China, India, Germany, France, and Italy, Dr. Amoah points out that their economic successes are largely attributable to their capacity to keep the majority of their citizens productively employed.
He believes that Ghana’s growing numbers of unemployed and underemployed youth represent a national challenge that warrants greater attention than any other. Consequently, Dr. Amoah is calling on President John Dramani Mahama and his administration to make job creation the paramount priority of the government’s “Reset Agenda.”
Valuable Human Capital
Dr. Amoah described Ghana’s unemployed youth as one of the nation’s most valuable assets, asserting that their potential contribution to development surpasses even the value of the country’s natural resources. “They are of much greater worth than the gold and bauxite beneath our feet,” he remarked.
Beyond Ghana, Dr. Amoah is urging governments across Africa to reconsider conventional economic development models and place employment generation at the forefront of public policy, education, vocational training, and national planning. He contends that meaningful economic transformation on the continent will remain out of reach unless deliberate strategies are implemented to equip millions of young Africans with relevant skills and connect them to productive opportunities.
Government’s Role in Job Creation
Crucially, Dr. Amoah challenges the prevailing notion that job creation should be primarily delegated to the private sector. While acknowledging the essential role of businesses in economic growth, he insists that governments must assume a more significant responsibility in creating the necessary conditions and opportunities for large-scale employment.
“We must jettison the preferred slogan that the private sector is the engine of growth and government is only there to provide an enabling environment,” he argued. “If jobs are the vehicles through which nations journey to their economic heavens, and governments are the custodians and spenders of national resources, including revenues from minerals and borrowed funds, then governments must bear a much greater responsibility to ensure the provision of good-paying jobs for all the people.”
A Path Forward
Dr. Amoah remains optimistic that this challenge can be surmounted with sufficient government commitment and political will. “We can do this if we want it, wish it and desire it,” he stated.
As African leaders confront unemployment, migration, and rising social tensions, Dr. Amoah’s message is unequivocal: sustainable development is intrinsically linked to job creation, and governments must measure their success by their ability to employ their citizens. The path to Africa’s future prosperity, he suggests, lies in putting people to work at productive wages, thereby fostering national flourishing.
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