The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr. Osman Ayariga Esq., has announced that Ghana will, for the first time, host a national Ghana Youth Festival this August to coincide with International Youth Day on August 12.
Speaking in an interview on Kasapa FM, Mr. Ayariga revealed that the NYA is taking a bold step to launch this landmark initiative aimed at addressing the most pressing issues facing the Ghanaian youth today. “It is not just about training and jobs, but also about the mental and emotional well-being of our youth,” he stated.
The Ghana Youth Festival will feature a series of conferences, forums, and campaigns focusing on mental health, drug abuse, unemployment, and other socio-economic challenges hindering the progress and productivity of young people across the country. A special emphasis will be placed on mental health, which Mr. Osman Ayariga described as a critical foundation for youth development.
“If the mental health of our youth is not stable, then providing jobs and training alone will not yield the needed results,” he stressed.
The festival will also include a national street campaign against drug abuse, which has become a growing concern among Ghanaian youth. Topics such as youth entrepreneurship, digital literacy, leadership, and civic responsibility will also be explored during the week-long event.
To cap off the festival, youth-centered entertainment and recreational activities will be organized to ensure that young people are not only engaged intellectually but also celebrated and empowered in a holistic way.
“This is the first time in our history that the NYA is organizing something of this magnitude for the youth,” Mr. Ayariga added, emphasizing that the goal is to inspire change, build resilience, and promote nationwide youth inclusion.
As part of the long-term plan, Mr. Osman Ayariga also disclosed that a Youth Fellowship Program would follow in October, offering young people further opportunities to learn, connect, and lead.
The Ghana Youth Festival is expected to become an annual platform to unite the country’s youth, amplify their voices, and push for policies and interventions that will shape a more promising future.
