2026 Budget: Gov’t to Create 800,000 New Jobs – Ato Forson
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The government’s 2026 Budget has been designed to aggressively tackle unemployment by creating up to 800,000 new jobs across multiple sectors of the economy, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced.
Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 13, Dr. Forson said the government’s flagship infrastructure and industrial programs, particularly under the Big Push Initiative, will be the main drivers of large-scale job creation over the next year.
He disclosed that GH¢63 billion worth of road construction contracts awarded under the Big Push initiative are projected to generate about 490,000 jobs, referencing World Bank estimates on employment creation through road investments. “Every cedi spent on infrastructure is also an investment in livelihoods,” Dr. Forson noted.
The Minister added that the government’s industrialisation and value-addition agenda will further contribute to job creation, with three new garment factories currently under development expected to produce over 20,000 direct jobs. In addition, seven agro-processing plants being established across the regions are set to employ about 700 people directly, while creating thousands more indirect opportunities across their agricultural supply chains.
Highlighting employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, Dr. Forson announced that the National Policy on Integrated Oil Palm Development (2026–2032) will generate approximately 250,000 jobs across the oil palm value chain. He also mentioned that the ongoing establishment of Farmer Service Centres across the country will provide additional employment in machinery operation, maintenance, logistics, and input supply.
“These investments are not isolated; they are part of an integrated national effort to turn stability into jobs and growth,” he stressed.
To enhance private-sector capacity to create sustainable jobs, the government is also strengthening key financial institutions. Dr. Forson revealed that the National Investment Bank (NIB) has already been recapitalised, while the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) will each receive GH¢1 billion in fresh capital before the end of 2025.
He further announced that GH¢401 million has been allocated to the Women’s Development Bank to provide affordable financing to small-scale entrepreneurs, particularly women traders and market operators. “This fund will empower business owners like Lamisi Adam, Priscilla Yovu, and Caroline Sfeir, entrepreneurs I met in Takoradi and Cape Coast, whose drive embodies the resilience of Ghanaian enterprise,” the Minister said.
Dr. Forson reiterated that the 2026 Budget is not just about balancing the books, but about translating stability into opportunity. “Our focus is on creating decent, productive jobs for Ghanaians, especially the youth, while supporting the private sector to thrive,” he concluded.
