By Savannah Pokuaah Duah
Executive Director of People’s Dialogue on Human Settlement, Farouk Braimah, has warned that Ghana’s expanding slum crisis is driving widespread disillusionment among young people, increasing vulnerability to radicalism and triggering a mass exodus of skilled professionals.
Braimah made the comments during an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, discussing the topic “Living on the Margins: Ghana’s Expanding Slums.”
He stressed the urgent need to address the root causes of the problem. “The youths in these areas and beyond are so frustrated, disappointed, and have lost faith in societal structures, governance, and the promises made to them,” Braimah stated.
“And so, if you have states where many of the youths, who, I think, are about 35% to 70% of the population when you combine the 0–14 and 14–35 age groups, are so disillusioned and have no faith in the system, we should be worried.”
Braimah highlighted the dire consequences of growing up in slums, including limited access to education, poor health, and mental health issues.
“If you look at the studies, you’ll find that one out of five kids in these areas has not had the opportunity to go to school. Where would they grow up into?” he asked.
He added: “The report tells us that people in slums have a higher risk of dying than those who don’t live in slums.”
