{"id":14094,"date":"2025-11-28T13:23:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T13:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/?p=14094"},"modified":"2025-11-28T13:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T13:23:53","slug":"the-2026-budget-a-promising-reset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/the-2026-budget-a-promising-reset\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Budget: A promising reset"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Government\u2019s 2026 Budget, themed&nbsp;<em>\u201cResetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;starts with a tale of macroeconomic resurgence and national revival. It contends that Ghana has recovered out of a period of severe fiscal stress, regained macro stability and repositioned the economy\u2002for growth, jobs and transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is real progress in several dimensions of the Budget and Government should be complimented for maintaining the\u2002balance on broad economic indicators in adverse situation. Yet for all these achievements, significant structural frailties continue to\u2002fester below the surface. In order to achieve truly inclusive and sustainable progress, Ghana needs to accelerate the pace of reforms and further consolidate institutions that will ensure that macro gains are translated into an improved welfare for households and\u2002employment creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Commendable Actions: Where the government deserves credit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Restoration of Macro Stability under tight constraints<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana\u2019s economy has been under severe pressure for years. Against this backdrop, the Government has achieved measurable gains. For much of the past decade, economic uncertainty shaped the daily experience of households and firms. Inflation rose sharply, the cedi lost ground, and public finances drifted into dangerous territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inflation eased, and with it being one of the biggest pressures on household budgets. The currency,\u2002which has seen years of tumultuous swings in value, has stabilized. The fiscal deficit, around 2.8 percent of GDP, reflects some read-through to greater discipline in public borrowing. Crucially, the Bank of Ghana has ended the controversial mode of financing the budget directly, a move that\u2002buttresses monetary policy credibility. In addition,\u2002reserves have strengthened, providing the country with greater insulation to external shocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are not small feats. Many developing economies facing similar shocks have struggled to rein in inflation or deficits. Ghana\u2019s progress here is credible, difficult, and worthy of recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Meeting 5 out of 6 ECOWAS Convergence Criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time in years being able to meet five out of the six ECOWAS convergence criteria is symbolic and practical weight. It shows things are falling in line with regional standards as far as fiscal and monetary policies are concerned. Not only does this success increase investors and lenders confidence but also repositions Ghana as a more reliable player within the Economic Bloc of West Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Renewed focus on productivity, jobs, and social protection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A\u2002good change in the 2026 Budget is its focus on real sectors which can employ labour and boost productivity. There is fresh attention on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support for SMEs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Youth employment policies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plans for industrial upgrading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reinvestment in critical social sectors such as health and education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These efforts are tackling deep structural challenges of high unemployment, large informal economy,\u2002and low productivity in key sectors. Even if implementation remains a challenge, the policies intention and framing represent the right direction for a country where unemployment, informality, and low productivity remain major constraints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;A shift toward institutional reforms and fiscal rule enforcement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Budget also openly admits, more than in\u2002past years, the need to fix systems that ultimately affect quality of public spending. The emphasis on reducing leakages, reinforcing procurement systems, value-for-money audits and improving the governance of state-owned\u2002enterprises suggests a change in mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana cannot rely on revenue mobilisation alone. The management, discipline, and integrity of public institutions matter just as much. These signals of reform, although early, are encouraging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Critical Gaps: Where the fiscal discipline narrative falls short<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the macro gains are real, the structure and sustainability of this progress remain uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fiscal discipline built on a narrow and fragile base<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A closer look at the numbers also raises questions about whether that progress\u2002is built of solid ground. Much of the consolidation appears to rely on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Higher taxes on an already narrow formal sector<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expenditure compression in key public services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delayed payments and arrears in some sectors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuts that may undermine social programmes or local government funding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the deficit\u2002reduction is dominated by painful short\u2010term cuts, as opposed to structural improvements in revenue efficiency or enhanced productivity of the public sector, the stability may not hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Limited translation of macro gains into micro-level relief<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the improvements on paper, many families are still contending with high food prices, soaring transportation expenses, low earnings and few job prospects. This disconnect between\u2002macro stability and household well-being is still large. As long as Ghanaians are not feeling the recovery in their pockets, the stability chorus will sound tinny to many\u2002households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Overreliance on convergence criteria as proof of structural progress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a long history that for a year or two, Ghana hits the fiscal targets\u2002only to reverse course when political cycles turn. A more fundamental challenge is how to build capacity in the institutions that enforce fiscal discipline including public financial management systems, state owned enterprises and regulatory\u2002agencies. Lacking stout systems, the convergence of criteria is a passing success\u2002not a change in shape. Ghana has achieved convergence in the past but ended\u2002up reversing the gains in political cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Political Economy Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The story of the \u201cdaunting inheritance\u201d and eight years of hardship politically makes sense, but it threatens to portray fiscal responsibility as partisan rather\u2002than institutional. Politically that might make sense, but it\u2002could also undermine the notion that fiscal rules and discipline should be above partisan cycles. A fiscal structure that bubbled and boiled with the turn of party would\u2002not have provided stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recommendations: How to build a more durable and inclusive transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Protect Productive and Social Spending Even During Consolidation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fiscal consolidation should not rubbish spending on sectors that would drive long-term development,\u2002such as basic education, primary health care system, agric modernisation, rural electrification, clean cooking initiative, feeder roads and local infrastructure. Yes, cutting spending on these sectors may balance the books now, but slows progress later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are\u2002real lessons to learn from other countries. Rwanda, even during its leanest years when it was strapped for money, refused to cut health or education spending. The outcome\u2002was a spectacular increase in schooling and among the fastest reductions in mortality anywhere on the continent of Africa. Vietnam followed a similar strategy when it preserved rural electrification and feeder road projects during their reform period. Maintaining those investments, it turned itself from a low-income country into one of the\u2002world\u2019s most competitive manufacturing centers. And\u2002Ghana can learn from these examples. Protecting the right sectors during consolidation is economic strategy, not charity.<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Strengthen revenue mobilisation without hurting the poor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of squeezing the same taxpayers more, Ghana should concentrate on cutting large-scale exemptions, ensuring big firms pay\u2002what they owe, digitalising tax collection and closing loopholes exploited by high-income groups. SMEs require an incentive to formalise, not disincentives that keep them further away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several countries offer workable models. Mauritius increased its revenue dramatically without raising taxes at all, just by getting rid of exemptions, digitising\u2002the revenue authority and making large companies comply better. Georgia famously exploited full digitalisation to rebuild its tax system, eliminating ancient corruption\u2002and lifting compliance from around 30% to over 90% in a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These examples illustrate that Ghana does not\u2002have to tax compliant firms and workers further. It requires a system that is wide, fair, digital and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Give fiscal rules legal and institutional teeth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sustainable progress requires a stronger legal and institutional framework. Ghana requires a new Fiscal Responsibility Act, an independent fiscal council, transparent quarterly reporting on arrears and projects\u2002and imposed sanctions for fiscal indiscipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chile\u2019s fiscal policy framework is one of the most well\u2010\u200bknown applications of this approach. Its independent fiscal council and binding fiscal rule enabled the country to save in good times and to stabilize when recessions struck. New Zealand went down a similar line in\u2002the 1990s with its Fiscal Responsibility Act, which revolutionised the way that public finances were managed through increased transparency and predictability. South Africa\u2019s focus on transparency in its quarterly budget and expenditure reports has instilled confidence amongst investors and fostered\u2002a culture of fiscal openness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana requires similar institutional underpinning: a beefed-up Fiscal Responsibility Act, a\u2002robust fiscal council with bite, sanctions for errant behavior and timely reporting of arrears status and project performance. Fiscal credibility should be anchored in institutions, not political\u2002cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Link Macro Stability to Job Creation and Household Welfare<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Macroeconomic stability should deliver real-life improvements\u2002in living standards. Government must guarantee clear job creation targets, transparent information on SME financing support, quantifiable progress made in\u2002reducing poverty and inequality and empower local government to improve service delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A\u2002valuable lesson comes from countries that related macro stability with real social progress. Brazil in the 2000s mixed stabilisation with targeted\u2002programmes such as Bolsa Fam\u00edlia. As a result, more than 27 million were taken out of poverty in\u2002just a decade. Indonesia channeled its stability gains into SMEs and rural development, where the informal\u2002sector moved up to higher productivity activities and created millions of jobs. Malaysia built up local governments, so that stability meant better roads, water and schools in communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stability has to move from the national accounts into the wallets and daily lives of Ghanaians. It means targets-to-sectored job compacts, transparency around SME support, empowered local government and visible changes in public services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&nbsp;Build Buffers to Prevent Future Crises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana must begin to rebuild contingency reserves, stabilisation funds, and climate resilience frameworks. These cushions are vital\u2002to shielding the economy from shocks which happen more often, and arrive with less predictability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some other countries have demonstrated what disciplined buffer-building can accomplish. Botswana established a stabilisation fund (though Ghana has some in place, it is mostly used for other purposes than its intended use) from diamond earnings and drew on it in difficult times, avoiding the\u2002risk of ruin to the public purse. Singapore, which boasts a conservative fiscal\u2002culture and will never beggar its reserves by borrowing heavily or crashing the economy, keeps substantial reserves so it can respond to crises such as COVID-19 without going cap-in-hand for funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana requires similar buffers: contingency reserves, stabilisation funds and\u2002frameworks for climate resilience. These\u2002are not indulgences; they are vital shields for an economy that has to function out there in an unpredictable world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Conclusion: A Welcome Reset, but Not Yet a Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026 Budget is one of the most optimistic and stabilisation-driven budgets Ghana has had in recent years. The Government deserves credit for cutting the country\u2019s deficits, taming inflations, stabilising\u2002the cedi and meeting core regional indicators. It\u2002has also made an important move toward resetting Ghana\u2019s development direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But stability is only the opening of this book. A country needs strong institutions, deep reforms, job-rich growth and social investments that people can feel in their ordinary lives if change is to truly take hold. The next task is\u2002to ensure that the promise of this budget becomes a platform, not just one more transient road-of-progress-construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ghana has taken an important step forward. Whether this becomes a sustained journey toward shared prosperity depends on how the Government addresses the structural gaps still standing between stability and transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thebftonline.com\/2025\/11\/24\/the-2026-budget-a-promising-reset\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">here <\/a><\/strong>for source.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Government\u2019s 2026 Budget, themed\u00a0\u201cResetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation,\u201d\u00a0starts with a tale of macroeconomic resurgence and national revival. It contends that Ghana has recovered out of a period of severe fiscal stress, regained macro stability and repositioned the economy\u2002for growth, jobs and transformation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[153],"tags":[177],"class_list":["post-14094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-articles","tag-2026-budget"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6196,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/breakfast-meeting-ghanas-business-climate-after-the-elections\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":0},"title":"Business Breakfast: \u201cGhana\u2019s Business Climate after the Elections&#8221;","author":"Michael Teye","date":"March 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"GNBCC in collaboration with other Chambers of Commerce hosted a breakfast meeting on the theme 'Post election business climate in Ghana, insights and opportunities.\u201d","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Advocacy and Representation&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy and Representation","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/advocacy-and-representation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2025-Business-Breakfast.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2025-Business-Breakfast.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2025-Business-Breakfast.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2025-Business-Breakfast.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13928,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/2026-budget-gh%c2%a2302-5bn-reset-budget-to-drive-growth-jobs-and-transformation\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":1},"title":"2026 Budget: GH\u00a2302.5bn \u2018reset budget\u2019 to drive growth, jobs and transformation","author":"Michael Teye","date":"November 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Government has unveiled a GH\u00a2302.5 billion 2026 Budget themed\u00a0\u201cResetting for Growth, Jobs and Economic Transformation,\u201d\u00a0aimed at consolidating macroeconomic stability while unlocking investments in infrastructure, agriculture, energy and social sectors to create sustainable jobs.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/budget2026.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/budget2026.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/budget2026.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/budget2026.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/budget2026.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14088,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/the-2026-budget-prospective-for-resetting-for-the-transformation\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":2},"title":"The 2026 Budget: Prospective for resetting for the transformation","author":"Michael Teye","date":"November 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The 2026 Budget under the theme, \u201cResetting for Growth, Jobs, and Economic Transformation\u201d, signifies that confidence is returning. Ghanaians now believe that the nation is going to rise once more. The feeling, generally, is that Ghana is back, strong, stable, and full of hope.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ssss.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ssss.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ssss.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ssss.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ssss.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14097,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/isser-questions-ability-to-achieve-targets-for-growth-jobs-and-economic-transformation\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":3},"title":"ISSER questions ability to achieve targets for growth, jobs and economic transformation","author":"Michael Teye","date":"November 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"According to the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), government needs stronger policy backing to deliver on its targets for growth, jobs and economic transformation in 2026.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ISser.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ISser.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ISser.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ISser.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ISser.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13185,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/lack-of-job-opportunities-compels-youth-to-flee-report-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":4},"title":"Lack of job opportunities compels youth to flee \u2014 Report","author":"Tracy Mensah","date":"August 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The country\u2019s working-age population grew by 2.7 million from 2012 to 2023, with people competing for 250,000 available jobs.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13195,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/lack-of-job-opportunities-compels-youth-to-flee-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":14094,"position":5},"title":"Lack of job opportunities compels youth to flee \u2014 Report","author":"Tracy Mensah","date":"August 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The country\u2019s working-age population grew by 2.7 million from 2012 to 2023, with people competing for 250,000 available jobs.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2025-08-15_0_Thomas.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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