The president of African Policy Lens, Dr. George Domfe, has said that the huge number of unemployed Ghanaian youth chasing security jobs signifies a weak economy.
Security services recruitment in Ghana, covering the military, police, fire service, and immigration, has increasingly become one of the most competitive employment avenues for young people.
These jobs are often seen as stable, offering regular salaries, accommodation, and long-term benefits.
However, the overwhelming number of applicants relative to limited vacancies has raised concerns about deeper economic challenges.
According to Dr. Domfe, Recent events highlight the scale of the issue.
In 2025, a tragic stampede during a military recruitment exercise in Accra led to multiple deaths after thousands of applicants rushed a venue, underscoring the desperation for such opportunities. Reports indicate that youth unemployment in Ghana is close to 39%, with many young graduates struggling to find formal employment.
Economists argue that this trend reflects structural weaknesses in job creation.
While Ghana’s overall unemployment rate has historically appeared moderate, hovering between roughly 4% and 8% in past years, this figure often masks underemployment and the dominance of informal work, where incomes are unstable and job security is low.
The situation has been worsened by recent economic shocks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 100,000 formal sector jobs and hundreds of thousands of informal jobs were lost, while millions of workers experienced reduced incomes. These effects continue to ripple through the economy, limiting opportunities in both public and private sectors.
Dr. Domfe argues that when hundreds of thousands of people compete for a few thousand security positions, it signals a lack of diversified and sustainable employment pathways.
It also reflects a growing preference for public sector jobs over private enterprise, often due to perceived instability in the latter.
Labour analysts suggest that addressing this imbalance will require targeted investment in industrialization, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Without such reforms, the surge in applications for security roles may continue to serve as a visible indicator of economic pressure, particularly among Ghana’s youth.
