Dr Ato Forson Calls for Stronger Private Sector Role in National Job Creation
Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has called on the private sector to take up a greater share of Ghana’s employment needs as government adopts a more measured approach to public sector hiring.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, November 14, Dr Forson warned that the state can no longer sustain widespread recruitment when the country’s infrastructure and economic capacity lag behind the growing demand for jobs. He argued that responsible hiring must correspond with the availability of public facilities and resources.
According to him, while the government will continue to recruit critical personnel—particularly doctors, nurses and teachers—those decisions must be driven by the readiness of public institutions to absorb them.
“If you employ doctors, you must have hospitals for them to work in. The same applies to teachers; you need classrooms,” he said, underscoring the link between public employment and the provision of essential infrastructure.
Dr Forson stressed that the government is not imposing a freeze on hiring, but rather transitioning to a “strategic and sustainable” model that safeguards the economy. He noted that the 2026 Budget prioritises sectors positioned to drive broader employment through private investment and enterprise expansion.
He explained that global labour trends show governments accounting for only 15–20% of national employment, with the private sector absorbing the majority.
“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,” he stated.
Dr Forson emphasised that a vibrant and expanding private sector remains the most reliable engine for long-term job creation. “The private sector is the most sustainable, not the government sector, so it should take the bulk of the employment force,” he added.
The Minister’s comments reinforce the administration’s push for a private-sector-led growth model under the 2026 Budget, aimed at reducing pressure on the public payroll while fostering a more resilient economy.
