An overwhelming majority of Ghanaians want the government to prioritize job creation and youth employment in the upcoming 2027 National Budget statement, according to a joint pre-budget survey released by auditing firm KPMG and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The report indicates that 71.0 percent of respondents cited employment opportunities as their top national priority, reflecting widespread public concern over economic livelihoods and sustainable income generation ahead of the budget presentation.
According to the report, fiscal policies must shift toward establishing practical economic conditions that allow local businesses to expand, attract investment, and generate long-term employment across key sectors.
“The survey and focus group findings emphasize four priority areas for consideration in the 2027 Budget,” the KPMG/UNDP joint report highlighted. “These include enabling enterprise growth through affordable financing and predictable taxation, as well as translating national economic programmes into productive investment.”
The findings also call for structural fiscal reforms to ensure that state spending yields direct benefits for the public and private sectors.
“The report recommends improving the value of public investment and strengthening financial discipline, with effective coordination through the Value for Money Office,” the joint statement detailed, adding that a key focus must also remain on “safeguarding natural resources and accelerating green investment.”
Responding to the survey’s economic indicators, government economic representatives noted that public expectations align with ongoing macroeconomic objectives.
“Stability is the foundation. Productivity is the engine. Jobs and prosperity must be the destination,” stated Deputy Minister for Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem, commenting on the core focus of upcoming fiscal policies. “Economic stability must now translate into improved livelihoods for ordinary citizens.”
The survey recommendations are intended to guide parliamentary deliberations and policy formulation ahead of the official budget presentation.
