Claims by the Ghanaian government that the national unemployment rate has dropped to 6.4% are not supported by official statistical data, according to a fact-check by MyJoyOnline.
Dr Ishmael Nii Amanor Dodoo, Chief Partnership Officer of the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, had asserted that the rate fell from 9.4% to 6.4%, but independent verification found no basis for these figures in published government statistics.
The dispute highlights growing scrutiny of the 24-Hour Economy programme, a flagship policy initiative aimed at extending economic activity into evening and night hours to boost productivity and job creation.
While the government argues the programme is delivering tangible results, critics point to a lack of transparent, verifiable data to substantiate performance claims.
Public approval for the government’s economic policies has been deteriorating, driven by sluggish implementation and a perceived failure to generate meaningful employment, according to recent analysis.
The absence of credible data on unemployment trends undermines the administration’s narrative of economic recovery and raises questions about the effectiveness of the 24-Hour Economy strategy.