Private sector must take lead role in job creation – Ato Forson

Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has urged the private sector to absorb the majority of Ghana’s labour force as the government pursues a more strategic and sustainable approach to public sector recruitment.

Speaking in an interview, November 14, Dr Forson explained that the government cannot continue to carry the weight of mass employment, particularly when infrastructure and economic capacity do not match the increasing demand for jobs.

He noted that while the state will continue to employ essential workers such as doctors, nurses and teachers, those decisions must be tied to the availability of facilities. “If you employ doctors, you must have hospitals for them to work in. The same applies to teachers, you need classrooms,” he said, stressing the need for a careful balance between hiring and the provision of public goods.

Dr. Forson said the government is not halting recruitment but is shifting to a more deliberate model aimed at protecting the economy.

He explained that the 2026 Budget has directed allocations to sectors capable of creating large-scale employment through private investment and enterprise growth. According to him, this approach aligns with global trends where governments employ only between 15 and 20% of the workforce.

“Government cannot say they won’t employ, but we have to employ strategically and sustainably. In most countries, the government does just 15 to 20% of the employment, and the private sector does the rest.

“The private sector is the most sustainable, not the government sector, so it should take the bulk of the employment force,” Dr Forson said.