Development Economist Dr George Domfeh has criticised the government’s economic presentation, arguing that the Finance Minister focused mainly on the positive aspects of the economy while failing to highlight some major challenges facing the country.
Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Dr Domfeh said issues such as youth unemployment require urgent attention and should be a top priority for government.
He pointed to concerns which indicated that youth unemployment remains a major challenge, with the rate reportedly reaching 32 per cent nationally and about 49 per cent in the Greater Accra Region.
According to him, the unemployment situation makes it difficult to claim that Ghanaians are better off simply because some economic indicators have improved.
“If you come and boast that Ghanaians are better because a lot of young people are employed, that does not reflect the reality on the ground,” he said.
Dr Domfeh said the number of unemployed young people seeking jobs remains worrying, adding that the situation is evident in the increasing number of job applications received by individuals and organisations.
“If I tell you the number of CVs on my desk, it is shocking and not easy. That is why I keep saying that job creation must be our number one priority,” he stated.
He also raised concerns about Ghana’s increasing dependence on imports, describing it as a threat to the country’s economic future.
Dr Domfeh criticised what he described as excessive reliance on imported goods, arguing that Ghana must focus more on strengthening local production.
“I don’t like the aggressive promotion of imports. A country cannot build a sustainable future when it continues to depend heavily on imported goods,” he said.
He cited Ghana’s import figures as a concern, noting that the country’s total imports increased significantly within a short period.
“Our total imports for March were about US$3.99 billion, and by May it had increased to US$9.4 billion. Three months later, we are using huge amounts of money to import, and that is not the right direction for the economy,” he explained.
Dr Domfeh stressed that government must prioritise policies that create jobs, support local industries and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign goods.
He said while economic stability is important, the ultimate measure of success should be whether ordinary Ghanaians, particularly young people, have access to decent employment opportunities.
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