COMMUNIQUÉ BY YOUTH ADVOCATES GHANA (YAG) ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT.
For Immediate Release
May 2025.
Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG), a youth-led and youth-driven non-profit organization committed to mobilizing, empowering, and advocating for young people in Ghana, commends His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, for the bold decision to establish the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment. This initiative marks a significant commitment to addressing the challenges and aspirations of young people and ensuring youth-centered policies and programs that drive national development.
It is worth noting that Ghana’s youth have played a pivotal role in national progress since the struggle for independence. Yet, the youth front continues to be bedeviled by a myriad of challenges. Common among them are high unemployment, inadequate skills development opportunities, limited access to resources, and exclusion from decision-making.
At Youth Advocates Ghana, the establishment of this ministry demonstrates a strong political will to prioritize youth issues and create a structured and strategic approach to empowering young people in Ghana.
While this initiative is a step in the right direction, its success will depend on strategic planning, inclusive governance, and efficient implementation. Youth Advocates Ghana makes the following recommendations to ensure the Ministry achieves its mandate:
Develop a Comprehensive National Youth Development Strategy.
The Ministry should develop a clear, evidence-based National Youth Development Policy with specific goals, timelines, and measurable indicators to track progress. This strategy must include marginalized and underserved youth in rural and urban communities.
Ensure Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration.
The Ministry should actively engage youth organizations, civil society, the private sector, development partners, and government agencies to co-create and implement sustainable youth initiatives. Platforms should be established for continuous dialogue between the government and youth-led organizations to ensure policies remain relevant and effective.
Promote Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.
Given the high youth unemployment rate, the Ministry should lead efforts to create a robust job creation framework that includes:
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Expanding vocational and technical training programs.
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Providing start-up funding and support for young entrepreneurs.
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Strengthening linkages between education and industry to enhance employability.
Mainstream Youth Engagement and Participation in Governance.
The Ministry must actively promote youth engagement and inclusion in decision-making processes at all levels. This includes appointing youth representatives to national and local governance structures and creating platforms for young people to influence policies that affect their future.
Sustainable Funding and Accountability Mechanisms.
Adequate and sustainable funding must be allocated to ensure the Ministry’s programs have a long-term impact. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness, a transparent accountability framework should be established to track and report on investments and outcomes.
Conclusion
The establishment of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment presents an opportunity to redefine youth development in Ghana. As a leading youth-led organization, YAG looks forward to collaborating with the Ministry to ensure youth voices are represented, policies are inclusive, and programs are impactful. We urge the government to commit to a youth-centered, action-driven, and transparent approach to managing this Ministry to create lasting change.
We remain committed to mobilizing, advocating, and empowering young people to fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
About Youth Advocates Ghana.
Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG) is a youth-led and youth-driven non-profit organization working to mobilize, empower, and advance the participation of children and young people in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana with reach across Africa.
Established in 2011, YAG has evolved to become a national organization committed to promoting children’s and young people’s wellbeing through community engagement, partnership, and coalition building, national advocacy, youth-led research, and international policy convening.
YAG is registered with statutory agencies in Ghana and holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Signed
Emmanuel Ametepey
Executive Director
Youth Advocates Ghana (YAG)