Renowned business management consultant Dr. Ishmael Yamson has described the ‘Jakpa’ phenomenon—the mass emigration of Ghanaian youth—as the ultimate “vote of no confidence” in the nation’s future.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 77th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC) on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the CEO of Ishmael Yamson & Associates argued that while the country’s infrastructure is in a state of “acute depravity”, the more devastating loss is the systematic erosion of national hope and the “Badge of Honour” that once accompanied Ghanaian identity.
Dr. Yamson took the audience on a nostalgic journey, recalling an era when the “Black Star” symbolised African excellence and progress. He noted with sadness that the pride which once defined the Ghanaian spirit has been supplanted by a pervasive sense of cynicism.
“You can appreciate the acute depravity of the state of our infrastructure, but perhaps the most painful loss of all is the erosion of our national pride and hope,” Dr. Yamson remarked. “There was a time when the Black Star was a beacon of African excellence; to say then that I’m a Ghanaian was to wear a badge of honour. Today, that pride has been replaced by cynicism.”
The ‘Jakpa’ Crisis: More Than Just Economics
The veteran consultant focused heavily on the ‘Jakpa’ trend—a slang term for the desperate drive by young professionals and artisans to relocate to Europe, North America, or the Middle East.
Dr. Yamson challenged the government to see this not merely as a search for better wages, but as a psychological divorce from the state.
“When our youth’s primary ambition is to emigrate to Jakpa, it is not just an economic decision,” he declared. “It’s a vote of no confidence in their motherland.”
He argued that when the brightest minds believe their potential can only be realised outside their borders, the nation is facing an existential crisis. This “human capital flight” leaves behind a hollowed-out workforce, further complicating the “structural reset” the government claims to be pursuing.
Dr. Yamson linked this lack of confidence to the “agony of unpredictability” in the Ghanaian economy.
He noted that while the government achieved “spectacular stabilisation” in 2025—bringing inflation down to 6.3% and the Cedi to GH¢10.65—trust has not yet returned to the boardroom or the streets.
According to Dr Yamson, the youth choose to ‘Jakpa’ because they can no longer plan for a mortgage, a career, or a family in an environment where fundamentals “shift like the wind.”
He warned that without a fundamental shift in values and the elimination of the “culture of impunity”, no amount of economic stabilisation will stop the exodus.
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