As Ghana celebrates the 2023 Africa Youth Day, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Yusif has called on the Ghanaian youth to utilize the youth-centered policies implemented in the country to directly address their challenges.
He said they should forget about seeking greener pastures elsewhere.
The Minister touted entrepreneurship as the new means to end youth employment in the country and urged the youth to take advantage of the various policies put in place.
“Government recognizes the power of youth entrepreneurship and hence has introduced programs and initiatives that provide young entrepreneurs with the essential tools and resources to turn their innovative ideas into thriving businesses fostering creativity, innovation and financial inclusion to project the African youth on higher pedestals across the globe” he explained.
“We have programs like You-Start, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP), Planting for food and jobs, Youth in Agriculture, National Youth Volunteers Program, Skills Towards Employability and Productivity (STEP) among others, all geared at encouraging entrepreneurship in the country” Mr. Yusif mentioned on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the commemoration of this year’s African Youth Day.
The event was held at the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) Secretariat under the theme; “1 million next level is knocking: Youth-led Movement that transcends borders.”
Mr Yusif said it is about time the African youth is trained towards creating employment than waiting to be employed as Africa has the greatest number of unemployed youths.
“Therefore, as Africa celebrates its youth, I will like to reiterate that the country has several initiatives that harness the latent energies of the young population and it is about time, the youth benefits from such initiatives” the Minister added.
Also present at the commemoration was the Director of Institutional Matters and Programs and Coordinator for the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Mr Prudence Sebahizi, who talked about the celebration of the African Youth every 1st November and also revealed that Ghana as the home of AfCFTA is hosting the entire celebration for the whole month of November.
He also outlined other programmes to celebrate the African Youth while addressing their challenges to make the African continent a peaceful abode and avoid brain drain among the youth.
The African Union has set up November as a month to celebrate the African Youth. This month was proclaimed and instituted as a day set aside every year to promote the increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all areas of African Society.
By Clara Boadi Konadu