The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Ayariga has called on Ghanaian youth to embrace entrepreneurship as a central pillar of national development.
Addressing the 2025 Enactus Ghana National Exposition at the GNAT Hall in Accra,on behalf of the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, he declared “The time for youth is now. Let us ensure entrepreneurship becomes the new currency of Ghana’s development.”
He praised Enactus Ghana for nurturing a generation of student entrepreneurs who are solving real-world problems with innovation and compassion. He described the event as a celebration of “bold ideas, innovative thinking, and youth-led transformation,” and commended the organisation’s ability to take classroom knowledge and apply it meaningfully within communities.
Reflecting on the theme “Global Perspectives: Entrepreneurship Without Borders”, he said it serves as a timely reminder that today’s entrepreneurs must think beyond national boundaries and act with purpose. “In a world interconnected by technology, markets, and ideas, entrepreneurship must no longer be confined by geography. It must be inspired by purpose,” he emphasised.
He reiterated government’s commitment to putting young people at the centre of national progress and outlined some of the flagship initiatives being rolled out by the Ministry and the NYA to empower Ghana’s youth in practical ways.
He cited the National Youth Policy (2022–2032) as a long-term framework designed to promote youth inclusion in education, governance, health, digital innovation, and civic engagement. The policy, he noted, is not just about preparing the youth for the future, but about equipping them to shape it.
He also mentioned the establishment of Youth Resource Centres across all regions, which will serve as training and innovation hubs for digital skills, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and leadership development. These centres, he said, are “not just physical spaces, but springboards for the next generation of job creators.”
Touching on job readiness, he highlighted the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), a major government initiative targeting 100,000 young Ghanaians. Through a mix of 70% hands-on training and 30% classroom instruction, the programme aims to develop both technical competence and business acumen. It is supported by a government investment of GH₵300 million.
In agriculture, he pointed to the Youth in Innovative Agriculture Programme (YIAP), which is repositioning farming as an attractive and profitable career path for the youth. With access to funding, mentorship, and climate-smart technology, thousands of young people are being empowered to build modern agribusinesses.
Further, he noted that youth-led startups continue to receive support through collaborations between NYA, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and the Ghana Enterprises Agency. These efforts focus on startup funding, business registration, incubation, and access to markets to ensure sustainability and scale.
“These programmes are not isolated efforts. Together, they represent a national strategy to convert Ghana’s youthful population into its most valuable asset,” he stressed.
He described Enactus Ghana as a key strategic partner in this mission. “You are helping to build not just businesses, but social leaders with empathy and foresight,” he said. He commended past Enactus projects for tackling challenges like rural unemployment, digital inequality, and waste management through creative, grassroots solutions. “This is entrepreneurship with purpose, and it must be scaled,” he added.
To corporate and institutional partners present, including the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Ghana Tourism Authority, he urged deeper investment in youth talent. “Let us open our boardrooms, our mentorship networks, and our procurement pipelines to these enterprising youth,” he said.
To the student teams competing at the exposition, he offered a heartfelt message of encouragement. “Whether you win or not, you have already proven that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Ghana. Keep refining your solutions. Keep learning. Keep leading.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Mary Asantewaa Buabeng
