The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) Osman 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 emphasized 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. 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 (CEO) 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 eagerly awaited for the past eight years.
In an exclusive interview, he explained that although the NYA Act provided a decentralized structure to empower youth participation in governance and decision-making, the systems had not been activated until now. He emphasized that involving young people directly in discussions with stakeholders would ensure that their concerns are incorporated into policies, making them more responsive to the needs of young people. He further highlighted the committees as opportunities for young people to develop leadership, organizational, and public speaking skills, and for better collaboration among agencies at the regional and district levels—including the education, health, and employment sectors—to improve coordination and outcomes, all within the national youth policy framework.
Meanwhile, district and regional directors participating in the workshop commended the NYA for organizing such an enlightening session. They said the workshop provided them with valuable knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of the Regional and District Youth Committees and how to effectively engage youth in decision-making processes within their regions and districts.
Ishmael Kwesi Selassie, Program Analyst for Adolescent and Youth at 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. We will continue to empower youth-led organizations and CSOs to champion the agenda of meaningful youth participation.”
He added that their eyes are keenly on this agenda and that they are hoping the committee is inaugurated properly during the National Youth Month in August.
The workshop, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 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.
