Tax Incentives, Skills Development, and Youth Employment in Ghana’s Renewable Energy Sector: Towards an Inclusive Green Economy

This study explores how Ghana’s tax incentives for the renewable energy sector align with national efforts to promote youth employment and skills development. While incentives such as import duty waivers, value-added tax exemptions, and corporate tax relief have attracted local and foreign investments, there is little evidence that these benefits are linked to job creation or training opportunities for young people. Relying entirely on secondary data including national laws, budget statements, institutional publications, and international reports, the study uses qualitative content analysis to evaluate how well the current incentive framework performs in terms of effectiveness, fairness, efficiency, and sustainability. The review reveals that most incentives are granted without conditions related to hiring young workers, forming training partnerships, or collaborating with technical institutions. Poor coordination between implementing agencies and the lack of proper monitoring systems further weakens the developmental impact of these policies. To address these gaps, the study recommends introducing job creation targets, performance-based rewards, and closer collaboration between tax authorities and labor institutions. By aligning tax policy with employment and skills training goals, Ghana can increase the long-term benefits of its tax incentive schemes. The study offers a practical policy model that supports inclusive economic growth, building of human capital, and contributes to the country’s broader transformation agenda.