Renowned economist Kwame Pianim has urged young Ghanaians, particularly women and men, to remain in the country and contribute to its economic development rather than migrating to other countries in search of opportunities.
Kwame Pianim said Ghana must create jobs and invest in productive sectors to prevent the growing youth population from becoming a burden on the economy.
“Now that the weather is changing in Europe, they will give us free visas to go there while they come and stay here. So you and I, let’s do the right thing and be strong and I think we will maintain this macroeconomic stability and move it forward. Otherwise in 10 years time, I am gone. You and your children are here. Make sure that this place we have called Ghana is made safe and productive for us. Our young women and men, stay here to work instead of running away, walking to other countries to add value to our raw materials in countries where nobody wants them,” he said.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Fidelity Bank Debt Capital Markets Conference 2026, he said food security should be among Ghana’s priorities, warning that the country must invest in agriculture and irrigation to feed itself.
“To me, food security, we have to feed ourselves,” Kwame Pianim stated, urging regulators including the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to adopt a growth and employment-generation mindset.
He also stressed the need to create jobs for the young people entering the labour market, stressing that failure to do so could have serious economic and social consequences.
“You either create jobs for them so they become forces for development or you leave them and they become destroyers,” Kwame Pianim said.
“They will be bandits, they will be armed robbers. They will not be contributing to growth,” he added.
Kwame Pianim also warned that illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, poses a growing threat to Ghana’s water resources and long-term economic prospects.
He stated that water scarcity could become a major source of conflict globally, arguing that Ghana cannot afford to undermine its own natural resources.
“If the galamsey continues, there is nothing you do, you won’t have water. You are not rich enough to import avian water to drink and the genetic make of our women are being destroyed. So let’s focus on that. Clean it up. The next war will be fought over water, where the water is and when the West move in, they will push us to the arid areas,” he emphasized.
