A group photograph of the participants at the workshop
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has urged stakeholders to collaborate actively to tackle pressing challenges facing Ghanaian youth, including unemployment, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy.
Delivering his welcome address at the orientation workshop to pilot the formation of the Regional and District Youth Committees in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions, he emphasised that collective action is essential to ensuring the success of government interventions aimed at empowering young people.
The CEO highlighted the importance of addressing substance abuse head-on, warning that failing to act decisively would result in expensive rehabilitation costs and long-term societal consequences. He called on stakeholders to work proactively to prevent substance abuse and support affected youth, stressing that collaboration is key to creating a safer environment for Ghana’s future leaders.
Mr. Osman Abdulai Ayariga explained that the Regional and District Youth Committees, established by the National Youth Authority Act 939, play a crucial role in implementing the Authority’s policies at the local level in line with the objectives of the Ghana National Youth Policy. These committees, he noted, are essential for ensuring that youth development initiatives are relevant to specific regional and district contexts and effectively reach the intended beneficiaries.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Homeownership Fund, Mr. Prosper Hoetu, who made a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of Youth Committees, commended the leadership of the NYA for taking this bold step—one that young people have looked forward to for the past eight years.
In an exclusive interview, he explained that although the NYA Act provided a decentralised structure to empower youth participation in governance and decision-making, the systems had not been activated until now. He stressed that involving young people directly in discussions with stakeholders would ensure that their concerns are incorporated into policies, making them more responsive to youth needs.
Ishmael Kwesi Selassie, Program Analyst for Adolescent and Youth at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said their focus is on youth participation in decision-making by creating enabling platforms. He reaffirmed UNFPA’s support to NYA, saying, “We continue to support the youth sector to ensure young people are developed.”
The workshop, supported by the United Nations Population Fund, brought together stakeholders from various regions and districts to equip them with knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the newly mandated committees under the National Youth Authority Act 939.
These committees are crucial for enhancing youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels, ensuring that policies and interventions directly address the needs of Ghana’s vibrant youth population.