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World Bank Group Warns of Growing Youth Employment Gap Amid Skills Mismatch

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The World Bank Group has raised concerns over a potential widening employment gap as an estimated 1.2 billion young people are expected to enter labour markets across developing countries within the next decade.

Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer of the institution, cautioned that many of these young entrants may lack the skills required by employers, largely due to a growing disconnect between education systems and rapidly evolving labour market demands.

Speaking at the Vice Chancellor’s Occasional Lecture Series at the University of Ghana on Monday, March 16, he described the situation as a pressing global challenge. He noted that the issue extends beyond job availability to concerns about productivity and income levels, particularly for young people already engaged in work but struggling to advance economically.

He further observed that the nature of jobs is changing quickly, with roles expected to evolve significantly over the next decade. According to him, skills that were once adequate are becoming increasingly outdated, underscoring the need for continuous adaptation.

Paschal Donohoe indicated that the World Bank Group is focusing its development agenda on improving education and skills training, promoting job creation, and supporting entrepreneurship. He explained that current efforts aim to strengthen foundational learning, better align higher education with labour market needs, and expand opportunities for young people to access meaningful employment.

He added that equipping individuals with relevant skills and opportunities remains essential to enabling them to reach their full potential in a changing global economy.

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Government proposes capping ministers at 60.

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The government proposes capping ministers at 60; Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced this as part of the government’s response to the Constitution Review Committee’s (CRC) recommendations on constitutional reforms.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, July 30, Dr Ayine said the government has accepted in principle the recommendation to place a limit on the number of Ministers of State to prevent the Executive from becoming excessively large. However, it has proposed a maximum of 60 ministers, instead of the Constitution Review Committee’s recommendation of 57 ministers.

The Constitution Review Committee had recommended amending Article 78(2) of the 1992 Constitution to cap the total number of Ministers of State at three times the size of Cabinet. Since the Constitution limits Cabinet Ministers to 19, the committee’s proposal would have restricted the total number of ministers to 57. The committee also proposed barring the appointment of Deputy Regional Ministers.

Explaining the government’s position, Dr Ayine said Government proposes capping ministers at 60 because it agrees that a ceiling is necessary to promote efficiency and reduce the size of the Executive, while still giving the President sufficient flexibility in constituting a government.

According to the government’s Position Paper, “The Government agrees that a ceiling on the total number of Ministers is desirable to prevent a bloated Executive arm of government. However, rather than fixing the cap at three times the Cabinet size, the Government proposes a cap of 60 Ministers of State. This provides the President with some flexibility while still imposing a meaningful constraint.”

The government, however, rejected the committee’s recommendation to prohibit Members of Parliament from being appointed as Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers or Regional Ministers.

Dr Ayine explained that the President should retain the discretion to appoint ministers from within or outside Parliament, arguing that Members of Parliament contribute valuable legislative experience and constituency knowledge to the Executive.

He added that Ghana’s hybrid system of government strikes an appropriate balance between a presidential and parliamentary system and should therefore be preserved. Instead, the government proposes deleting the constitutional requirement that the majority of ministers must be appointed from among Members of Parliament, allowing the President to appoint ministers from Parliament or outside Parliament as deemed appropriate.

Government proposes capping ministers at 60 as part of a broader package of constitutional reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening accountability and making the Executive more efficient while preserving the President’s flexibility in forming a government.

If approved through the constitutional amendment process, the proposed changes will redefine the size and composition of future governments under Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

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Parliament approves electronic road tolls under 20-year concession agreement

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Parliament  has approved the electronic road tolls concession agreement, paving the way for the return of toll collection on roads and bridges across Ghana through a public-private partnership.

The agreement establishes the legal and commercial framework for financing, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and eventually transferring a nationwide electronic toll collection system to the Government of Ghana.

The initiative is expected to modernise toll collection by introducing internationally recognised electronic tolling technology. It also seeks to restore a sustainable source of funding for road maintenance, improve operational efficiency, reduce revenue leakages and increase transparency in toll administration.

The concession agreement is between the Ministry of Roads and Highways, acting on behalf of the Government of Ghana, and a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be incorporated by Rock Africa Limited. The company will mobilise private sector investment to develop and operate the electronic tolling system.

66 toll locations across Ghana

Under the agreement, the electronic tolling system will cover 66 toll locations spread across 13 operational corridors. These include 38 existing toll booths and 28 newly identified strategic toll points.

Revenue generated from the toll system will be shared between the government and the concessionaire. The Government of Ghana will receive 70 percent of gross toll revenue, while the concessionaire will retain 30 percent.

The concession will run for 20 years, with the first three years dedicated to the design and construction phase, followed by 17 years of operation and maintenance. At the end of the concession period, all project assets will be transferred to the Government of Ghana in accordance with the agreement.

Parliament approves concession agreement

The concession agreement was laid before Parliament on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on behalf of the Minister for Roads and Highways.

The House approved the motion after the Chairman of the Roads and Transportation Committee, Isaac Adjei Mensah, presented the committee’s report and recommended that Parliament adopt it and approve the agreement.

MPs back return of road tolls

Seconding the motion, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transportation Committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, said the committee concluded that reintroducing road tolls would generate more revenue for the Road Fund to support road maintenance across the country.

He noted that the previous administration suspended road toll collection in 2022 to create a better framework for an expanded tolling system. According to him, Cabinet had already approved a roadmap for the reintroduction of tolls before the change in government.

Mr Osei Nyarko welcomed the decision of the current administration to continue with the earlier plan instead of abandoning it.

Supporting the motion, the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, explained that the previous government suspended road tolls after introducing the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) to avoid placing an additional financial burden on Ghanaians.

He said government projected significant revenue from the E-Levy at the time, while road tolls generated comparatively lower income, making the decision to suspend toll collection more practical.

Mr Nitiwul, however, expressed support for the new electronic tolling system, saying the technology-driven approach would minimise delays and inconvenience for motorists.

“The road tolls are electronic and it is for 20 years. I think it is good for us to support it,” he said.

Source:Graphiconline

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Government backs five-year presidential and parliamentary terms in major constitutional reform

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Government backs five-year presidential and parliamentary terms, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has announced as part of the government’s response to the Constitution Review Committee’s (CRC) recommendations to amend the 1992 Constitution.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, July 30, Dr Ayine said the government has accepted the committee’s recommendation to extend the tenure of the President from four years to five years. It has also accepted in principle a corresponding extension of Parliament’s term from four years to five years.

According to the Attorney-General, the government believes the current four-year constitutional term does not provide sufficient time for administrations to effectively formulate, implement and assess national policies.

He explained that the first few months of every administration are usually dedicated to the transition process, while the final year is largely occupied by election-related activities, leaving a relatively short period for governance.

“A longer term provides a more realistic timeframe for the formulation, implementation, and assessment of government policy. The current four-year cycle limits the period available for governance, as the early months of each administration are consumed by transition, while the final year is largely focused on the elections,” the government’s Position Paper stated.

Dr Ayine said the proposed five-year term would give both the President and Members of Parliament greater opportunity to deliver on their mandates and implement development programmes without the constraints imposed by the existing electoral cycle.

On Parliament, the government also accepted in principle the recommendation to extend the tenure of Members of Parliament to five years to align with the proposed presidential term. It further endorsed amending the Constitution to explicitly provide that parliamentary and presidential elections be held on the same day, although this is already the practice.

The proposal forms part of a broader package of constitutional reforms being considered by the government following the submission of the Constitution Review Committee’s report. The recommendations will have to go through the constitutional amendment process before they can take effect.

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11 Lower Primary Pupils Involved in Sprinter Bus Crash with Tipper Truck on Dzorwulu–Accra Mall Road

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A Sprinter bus crash on the Dzorwulu–Accra Mall stretch in Accra has left emergency responders at the scene after a vehicle transporting about 11 lower primary school pupils collided with a loaded tipper truck on Thursday, July 30.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), firefighters were swiftly dispatched to the accident scene to conduct an initial assessment and assist with ongoing emergency operations.

The GNFS disclosed in a social media update that the Sprinter bus carrying approximately 11 lower primary pupils was involved in the collision with the tipper truck. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties or disclosed the condition of the children and other occupants.

The cause of the Sprinter bus crash on the Dzorwulu–Accra Mall road has not yet been established. Emergency personnel continued to assess the situation while providing the necessary response at the scene.

The Ghana National Fire Service indicated that further updates will be provided as investigations continue and more information becomes available.

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President to Pay Taxes on Salary and Allowances, Retirement Benefits Remain Tax-Free

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The government has accepted a key recommendation from the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) requiring the President to pay taxes on salary and allowances while in office, marking a significant step towards promoting accountability and fairness in public office.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, announced the decision on Thursday, July 30, during a briefing on the government’s response to the Constitutional Review Committee’s report.

According to Dr Ayine, the government agrees with the principle that the President should no longer enjoy tax exemptions simply because of the office he occupies.

“The Government has accepted the principle that the President should not enjoy tax exemptions by virtue of office alone. The President will pay tax on salary and allowances, as well as the applicable indirect taxes on goods and services,” he stated.

Retirement Gratuity and Pension Exempt

Despite accepting the recommendation for the President to pay taxes on salary and allowances, the government rejected the proposal to tax the President’s retirement gratuity and pension.

Dr Ayine explained that retirement benefits would remain exempt from taxation, while the specific details of the President’s tax obligations would be outlined in future tax legislation.

“The Government has not, however, accepted the proposal to tax the President’s retirement gratuity and pension, and the details of the President’s tax liability will be worked out in the tax laws, where such details belong,” he added.

Constitutional Reforms Underway

The decision forms part of the government’s broader response to recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Committee, which was tasked with reviewing Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and proposing reforms to strengthen governance, transparency and public accountability.

The committee’s recommendations are expected to guide future constitutional amendments and legislative reforms following the nationwide constitutional review process.

The government’s acceptance of the proposal requiring the President to pay taxes on salary and allowances is seen as one of several measures aimed at reinforcing public confidence in leadership and ensuring greater equity in the country’s tax system.

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