‘No government directly creates jobs’ – Ken Thompson

Ken Thompson, former Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, has called on Ghanaians to reconsider their understanding of job creation, emphasising that governments do not directly create jobs.

Speaking on the challenges facing the country, Ken Thompson highlighted the need for a shift in mindset among the youth.

“We must be clear in our minds that it is not the government that creates jobs. No government anywhere creates jobs,” Thompson stated on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, urging citizens to focus on alternative avenues for employment.

He expressed concern over the aspirations of many young people, noting that a significant number aim to work in institutions like the Bank of Ghana, which he believes reflects deeper systemic issues.

“What even breaks my heart is that a lot of young people, when you ask them where they want to work, some of them say, ‘I want to work in the Bank of Ghana.’ Then you know it’s a problem. Ghana, it is a problem,” he remarked.

Ken Thompson also pointed out the lack of resources in some institutions, saying, “You go to some of these institutions, some of them don’t even have desks to sit on.”

While acknowledging the struggles faced by the youth, Thompson emphasised that the challenges are not their fault.

“First, it is not the young people’s fault. Ghana is really in a difficult place to survive,” he said.