Ghana’s economy is growing, yet formal job creation continues to lag. While provisional GDP estimates for the first quarter of 2026 indicate 6.4% economic growth, driven in part by a 25.2% surge in the ICT sector, youth unemployment remains persistently high.
In a new analysis, IMANI Associate John Sitsofe Mensah argues that Ghana already possesses the data needed to better understand this disconnect between economic growth and employment.
The information exists within SSNIT’s Operational Business Suite (OBS), a digitised pension administration system procured at a reported cost of $72 million.
The analysis makes the case for a publicly accessible, anonymised dashboard that would provide regular insights into formal sector employment trends.
Key arguments include:
🔸 Real-time employment data would improve labour market diagnostics.
🔸 Aggregated statistics can be published without violating data privacy laws.
🔸 Transparency would strengthen policymaking and economic planning.
🔸 Compliance trends themselves provide valuable economic signals.
🔸 Greater openness would enhance investor confidence and institutional credibility.
“Transparency is not a favour; it is a benefit derived from our monthly contribution.”
The analysis contends that publishing anonymised labour market data could help policymakers, businesses, researchers, and citizens better understand the realities of Ghana’s formal employment landscape.
By: Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President and CEO of IMANI Africa
