As part of sustained efforts to tackle youth unemployment and unlock Africa’s economic potential, the World Bank Group has held the Western and Central Africa (AFW) Youth Forum 2026 in Accra, bringing together policymakers, development partners, private sector leaders, and young entrepreneurs to explore practical solutions for job creation and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
The forum held under the theme “Youth Works, Africa Thrives,” provided a platform for dialogue on how governments, businesses and development institutions can collaborate to equip young Africans with the skills, financing and opportunities needed to drive sustainable development, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The discussions centered on job creation, entrepreneurship, digital innovation, agribusiness, access to finance, business standards and skills development, with participants stressing that Africa’s youthful population represents one of its greatest economic assets.
“We are here to listen” – Michelle Keane
Opening the forum, Michelle Keane, Operations Manager at the World Bank, described youth employment as one of the most urgent development priorities facing Western and Central Africa.
She said the forum was intentionally designed as a listening platform where young people could openly share their experiences, challenges and ideas for shaping policies that directly affect their future.
“We’re here to listen to your realities, your challenges and your solutions. What is holding you back? What support matters most? What would enable you to build, scale and thrive?” she said.
According to Ms. Keane, young people are already creating businesses, driving innovation and contributing significantly to their economies, but questioned whether institutions, policies and financing systems are evolving quickly enough to match their ambitions.
She added that Ghana’s future economic growth will largely depend on how successfully young people transition from education into employment, entrepreneurship and productive livelihoods.
Addressing barriers to entrepreneurship
Ms. Keane noted that although Ghana has a vibrant entrepreneurial culture, an expanding digital ecosystem and a growing SME sector, many young entrepreneurs continue to face significant obstacles.
These include limited access to finance, inadequate mentorship opportunities, skills gaps and restricted access to markets, all of which hinder business growth and job creation.
She said addressing these challenges is critical to building an inclusive economy capable of creating sustainable opportunities for young people.
“This is why entrepreneurship, SMEs and youth-led innovation were selected as Ghana’s thematic focus for this forum,” she explained.
World Bank strengthens investment in youth development
Highlighting ongoing interventions, Ms. Keane reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting youth employment through investments in education, digital connectivity, skills development and private sector expansion.
She cited a US$300 million initiative aimed at ending Ghana’s double-track senior high school system while strengthening education quality and preparing students with skills needed for higher education and the labour market.
She also pointed to the International Finance Corporation’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises, noting that expanding access to finance remains a key strategy for stimulating job creation.
Ghana faces widening jobs gap
Dr. Ashwini Sebastian, Senior Agriculture Economist for Ghana and West Africa at the World Bank, highlighted a widening gap between labour market demand and job creation, describing it as one of the country’s most pressing economic challenges.
She disclosed that while Ghana has created approximately 435,000 jobs over the past decade, nearly 3.7 million young people entered the labour force during the same period, underscoring the urgent need for bold interventions to generate sustainable employment opportunities.
According to her, the disparity points to a structural challenge that cannot be addressed through conventional approaches alone, but requires comprehensive policy reforms, increased private sector investment and stronger support for youth entrepreneurship.
Dr. Sebastian also identified agriculture as one of Ghana’s most underutilized engines of job creation and economic transformation. She noted that less than five percent of the country’s agricultural exports are processed, limiting value addition, industrial growth and employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
She stressed that expanding agro-processing and investing in value-added production could unlock thousands of jobs for young people while boosting exports, strengthening local industries and accelerating inclusive economic growth.
Employers seek attitude as much as skills
During a panel discussion, Jobberman CEO Hilda Nimo Tieku emphasized that employers are increasingly looking beyond academic qualifications and technical expertise, placing equal value on attitude, character and adaptability when recruiting young professionals.
She noted that qualities such as passion, discipline, resilience and a willingness to learn often set candidates apart in an increasingly competitive labour market, making them more attractive to employers.
“What came up was passion. Employers want to see that you are passionate about what you do and that you will not give up easily,” she said.
Ms. Tieku also stressed the importance of financial discipline and intentional career development, encouraging young people to build practical work experience, strengthen their professional networks and develop transferable skills before venturing into full-time entrepreneurship.
According to her, combining technical competence with the right mindset and workplace attitude is essential for long-term career success and sustainable business growth.
UNCDF calls for stronger business readiness
Maame Yaa Owusu-Amoah, Technical Specialist for Digital Finance and Ecosystem at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), highlighted the persistent financing challenges facing young entrepreneurs, stressing that access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to business growth and innovation.
She explained that although various funding opportunities exist, many youth-led enterprises struggle to secure investment because they lack formal business structures, reliable financial records and data-driven growth strategies that inspire investor confidence.
According to her, a significant number of startups fall into a financing gap, where they have outgrown the support offered by microfinance institutions but are not yet sufficiently developed to attract venture capital or commercial investment.
Ms. Owusu-Amoah emphasized that securing funding requires more than a good business idea, noting that investors are increasingly looking for enterprises with clear business models, sound governance systems, measurable performance indicators and credible growth plans.
She encouraged young entrepreneurs to invest in strengthening their operational and financial foundations, arguing that business readiness is a critical factor in unlocking sustainable financing and long-term success.
Business standards matter for global growth
Founder and CEO of Digiits, Elli Banini, underscored the importance of trust, credibility and internationally recognized standards in building businesses that can compete and thrive in the global marketplace.
He observed that many locally developed software products struggle to scale beyond domestic markets because they are often not developed using structured engineering processes, robust quality assurance frameworks or internationally accepted best practices.
According to him, achieving global competitiveness requires more than innovation alone; it demands consistency, reliability and adherence to industry standards that inspire confidence among clients and investors.
Mr. Banini stressed that certification, quality assurance and standardized development processes are essential for securing repeat business, attracting international partnerships and positioning African technology companies for sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive digital economy.
Clarity and focus drive entrepreneurial success
Managing Director of WAMI Agro, Caleb Edwards, encouraged young entrepreneurs to remain focused despite having multiple interests and opportunities.
He said many talented young people struggle with execution because they attempt to pursue too many ideas simultaneously.
“The most difficult thing for multi-skilled people is clarity. You just need to pick one thing and drive it,” he said.
He explained that maintaining clarity enables entrepreneurs to build resilience, stay committed to long-term goals and overcome the daily challenges associated with growing a business.
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Collective action needed
Participants described youth unemployment as one of the region’s most pressing development challenges and urged greater collaboration to create scalable employment opportunities, reaffirming that investing in Africa’s youth is key to driving inclusive growth, stronger enterprises and long-term economic transformation.
The forum concluded with a strong call for coordinated action among governments, development partners, the private sector and young people to confront youth unemployment and unlock Africa’s economic potential.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
