Over five hundred young leaders, policymakers, youth advocate groups, civil society representatives, private sector actors, and government officials converged in Koforidua for the Ghana Youth Summit 2025, a two -day national dialogue under the theme, “Harnessing the Power of Youth for Transformative Development”.
The summit was organised under the Action for Youth Development (AfYD) project, under the auspices of STAR-Ghana Foundation in partnership with Youth Advocate Ghana, Kofkro Partners, the New Juaben South Assembly, and the National Youth Authority,with support of Botnar Foundation.
The gathering aimed at providing a platform for young people to engage decision makers, share experiences and co-create sustainable solutions to both local and national developmental challenges that may impair the future of the youth.
The summit also empowers the youth to be problem solvers, innovators and active citizens to demand accountability and shape governance.
Addressing the media at the sidelines of the Summit, Eunice Rachael Agbenyadzi, Head of Programmes at STAR-Ghana Foundation, encouraged the youth recognize their collective power to influence policies, decisions and national directions.
She said the youth must take keen interest in addressing challenges that are existential threat to the current and future generation chiefly corruption and illegal mining.
“We are faced with many challenges; unemployment, corruption, and illegal mining that destroy the very environment we will hand over to our children. Young people cannot remain passive. When they mobilize across political, tribal, and social divides, they can make real progress,” she stated.
She cautioned the youth against politicisation of national issues stating that unity among the youth is essential for fighting corruption and safeguarding the environment from the scourge of illegal mining.
On youth unemployment, Madam Agbenyadzi emphasized the need for economic empowerment while urging young people to reject illegal mining as a livelihood option.
“Unemployment should not be an excuse to destroy our environment. Protecting nature can itself create jobs. For example, engaging youth as forest or water guards can provide income while preserving our resources,” she said.
She also highlighted the positive impact of the Kofkro Project, citing improved collaboration between young people and the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly.
“There used to be mistrust, but that has changed. Now we have about eleven young people serving in the Assembly, bringing fresh perspectives to local governance,” she added.
Delivering a keynote address, Jacob Adongo Atule, Deputy CEO in charge of Finance and Administration at the National Youth Authority, urged young people to take ownership of national development.
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“We often say the youth are the future, but I am here to tell you that you are the present; the most dynamic and potent force for change. The quality of our future depends on the investments we make in you today,” he said.
Mr. Atule outlined government initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship Programme, which will support over 10,000 young trainees this year, and plans to help establish businesses for them.
“That is why the authority will establish businesses for the over 10,000 apprentices that will graduate from the National Apprenticeship Programme this year. We are also committed to working with partners to create an ecosystem that supports youth entrepreneurship, skills development, and access to capital, transforming job seekers into job creators”.
He emphasized that the NYA is focused on moving beyond tokenistic youth inclusion by strengthening structured platforms like the Ghana Youth Federation to ensure that young people not only have a voice but real influence in governance.
Mr. Atule, a visually impaired who inspired many of the youth at the summit, further underscored the importance of gender mainstreaming and disability inclusion, saying sustainable development requires giving every young Ghanaian an equal opportunity to thrive.
He also expressed concern about the growing threat of drug abuse among young people, revealing that recent research shows about 27 percent of secondary school students have experimented with drugs.
“This statistic is alarming. We must intensify education to protect our youth from drug addiction, which is killing potential leaders,” he cautioned.
The New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive, Rasford Owusu Boakye commended the Kofkro project stating that it has increased youth participation in decision making in the municipal assembly helping to address myraid of challenges the youth face.
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He pledged commitment of the assembly to continuously work together with various youth groups build a future that reflects the aspirations of the youth.
A communique will be issued after the summit.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
