Former President John Dramani Mahama has linked the increase in irregular migration to the disappointment felt by the youth in the leadership of the country. 

He emphasised that the lack of employment opportunities and economic challenges are driving young people to take perilous journeys to Europe in search of better prospects.

Despite the country's abundance of resources, Mahama noted that development has been stifled over the years. 

Speaking at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Sunyani Diocese of the Catholic Church during his two-day tour to the Bono Region, Mahama called for urgent measures to restore the youth's confidence in the country's development.

“We can reverse this by growing our economy and creating more jobs for our young people. 

“I dare say this is an urgent call. 

“I am heartened that my recent suggestion of operating a twenty-four economy in Ghana has been heard by the finance Minister as he mentioned in his recent budget statement in the form he called the night economy,” he remarked.

Earlier, the Most Reverend Matthew Gyamfi bemoaned the economic challenges bedevilling the country despite abundance of resources.

In a response to issues of corruption, Mr Mahama said it is about time a concerted effort was adopted to halt the trend.

“His distressing remarks about the suffocating grip of uncontrolled corruption across our nation’s landscape demands urgent reflection and action by all our citizens especially the political leadership,” he said.