Government has placed young people, artistes and the creative economy at the centre of its US$10 billion, four-year job creation programme, allocating GH¢3.5 billion to youth employment and skills development in the 2027 Budget.
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy, presented to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, outlines the government’s commitment to building “a Ghana that gives its young people a fair chance to prosper at home.”
The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has been allocated GH¢3.5 billion for 2027. Of this amount, GH¢2 billion will support youth employment and skills development programmes, GH¢1 billion will cater for National Service allowances, GH¢170 million will go to the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, while GH¢200 million has been earmarked for the National Youth Authority.
As part of efforts to increase funding for youth employment, government will amend the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act, 2017 (Act 947), to remove the cap on funds allocated to youth employment programmes.
According to the Budget, the proposed reform will unlock an additional GH¢1 billion for youth employment and apprenticeship programmes, including revenue from the Communications Service Tax. The Youth Employment Act will also be modernised to consolidate the various employment programmes under a more coordinated framework.
The Budget further reports that the Youth Employment Agency engaged 73,537 young people across 13 employment modules in 2026, with government targeting at least 100,000 beneficiaries in 2027.
In addition, a Youth Start-Up Bill is being prepared to establish a framework for creating, supporting and promoting start-ups.
Government will also introduce a Youth in Courier and Related Services Programme in 2027. The initiative will train and certify young people, including commercial motorcycle operators, with the aim of transforming a growing informal economic activity into “a safer, more productive and dependable source of employment.”
US$1 billion investment in tourism and creative economy
Beyond youth employment, the 2027 Budget identifies tourism, culture and the creative arts as key drivers of economic growth, job creation and foreign exchange earnings.
Government plans to invest US$1 billion in the sector to develop a year-round visitor economy, with artistes, craftspeople, technology firms and event businesses expected to benefit from the initiative.
A major component of this strategy is the Black Star Experience, which, according to the Budget, “will run through all twelve months,” with December serving as its anchor period.
Through heritage journeys, family reunions, educational programmes and creative arts activities, government intends to create more reasons for visitors to travel to Ghana throughout the year.
A national events calendar and competitive destination bidding process will also be introduced to distribute activities across different seasons and regions, while transforming them into organised and bookable tourism experiences.
As part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to host international events, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) will develop an international convention centre at the La Trade Fair Centre.
A convention bureau is also expected to be established in 2027 to attract recurring African and international conferences to the country. Accra will serve as the lead destination, with Kumasi complementing the capital’s conference and business tourism offerings.
Government further plans to complete a new National Theatre in Kumasi, which will serve as a venue for performances, conferences and other activities within the creative industries.
To support the expansion of tourism infrastructure, tax incentives will be introduced to facilitate the development of five new SSNIT hotels by 2030. The facilities are expected to be located in Accra, Kumasi, the Cape Coast and Elmina corridor, the Volta Region and Northern Ghana.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has been allocated GH¢186 million for 2027. The Ministry has also launched a Revised National Cultural Policy aimed at positioning the cultural and creative industries as important drivers of economic growth and national development.
The Budget reiterates government’s commitment to ensuring that support to the private sector is “transparent, time-bound and linked to verified results.”
It concludes with a call for Ghanaians to assess the government’s development agenda based on “honest milestones and visible results.”