On 1st November 2025, the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF) took center stage at the Africa Youth Day Ministerial Dialogue held at the Accra International Conference Centre. The Federation’s Acting President, Mr. Sherif Ghali, presented the findings from nationwide Regional Youth Listening Sessions, capturing the real voices, challenges, and solutions proposed by young people across all sixteen regions of Ghana.
The sessions, held in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA), gave youth from diverse backgrounds—students, entrepreneurs, farmers, and artisans—a platform to express their needs and expectations directly to policymakers.
Mr. Ghali emphasized that the findings were not complaints but solutions. “The youth of Ghana do not seek charity; they seek partnership. They are not asking for handouts but for systems that work,” he said, calling on government and development partners to act decisively on youth development.
The presentation outlined clear recommendations to key ministries:
- Employment and Labour Relations: Establish Regional Employment and Innovation Coordination Desks, formalize apprenticeships and graduate placements, and develop a national digital job-matching platform.
- Lands and Natural Resources: Strengthen enforcement against illegal mining, promote youth-led reforestation, and ensure transparency in royalties.
- Food and Agriculture: Create youth agribusiness funds, expand mechanization centers, and improve rural market infrastructure.
- Trade and Industry: Introduce a National Youth Enterprise Fund, ease business registration, and empower youth participation in AfCFTA trade opportunities.
- Education: Upgrade TVET centers, align curricula with industry needs, and improve inclusivity for vulnerable groups.
Across these sectors, the youth demanded access, accountability, coordination, inclusion, and sustainability as the guiding principles of national youth policy.
Mr. Ghali announced that the Ghana Youth Federation will soon launch a Youth Accountability Dashboard, a digital tool to track commitments and progress made on youth development. “The youth have not lost faith—they are waiting for proof,” he said.
Government representatives, development partners, and youth stakeholders commended the Federation’s initiative and pledged to work together to ensure the recommendations translate into real results.
The 2025 Africa Youth Day celebration reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to making youth participation central to national policy. The GYF continues to serve as the united voice of young Ghanaians, championing collaboration, evidence-based advocacy, and practical solutions for youth empowerment.
#YouthInAction #GhanaYouthFederation #AfricaYouthDay2025
