The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has outlined the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s strategic plan to tackle youth unemployment and promote job creation.
Speaking on the newly created ministry’s vision, he emphasized that the youth, who make up a significant portion of Ghana’s population, are central to national development and cannot be neglected.
“Ghana’s population is a little above 30,000,000. Out of that 30,000,000, people between the ages of 15 to 35 are almost 13,000,000. So that group is in the majority. It’s the biggest demographic we have.
“And so if you’re a government that seeks to be purposeful and do real work and develop this country or develop your country, you cannot live out that critical group: 30,000,000 of a population that is able and can work. Anybody who leaves them out, is rather setting themselves up for failure”.
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
He praised President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to establish a standalone Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, noting that youth affairs had previously been overshadowed under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
According to the minister, past administrations primarily focused on sports, particularly football, rather than addressing the broader concerns of young people.
He asserted that by distinguishing between youth development and sports, the government is now better positioned to implement policies that directly impact the youth.
Identifying Key Challenges
Opare Addo identified several major challenges affecting young Ghanaians, with unemployment being a critical issue.
However, he noted that the real challenge extends beyond joblessness to include a lack of employable skills, inadequate certification, and limited access to job opportunities.
He stressed the need for proper skills training and emphasized that many young people possess talents but lack the necessary qualifications to secure employment in specific industries.
Another key issue highlighted is the absence of a comprehensive database on youth employment and job opportunities.
The minister revealed that several government agencies currently run youth-related programs, but due to poor coordination, information is not readily available to many young people.
“So we hear a lot of things happening. It was not out there until I got to the ministry and started interacting with some of the agencies. I was amazed at how many programs they rolled out every year for young people. But we’ve operated in silos, so information flow has been a challenge.
“So a lot of things do happen and very few young people get to have access to it, and you realize that it’s been recycled among a very few. So you have access because you may have access to the information. So you realize that one person exploits the system to the extent that he gets all the opportunities.”
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
Coordinating a Holistic Approach to Youth Employment
The minister outlined a multi-sectoral approach to tackling youth unemployment, emphasizing that youth-related policies must be coordinated across various government ministries.
He criticized the previous administration’s fragmented approach, where different ministries independently implemented youth programs, often duplicating efforts without proper oversight.
“Now that we have a dedicated ministry, our role is to bring all youth-focused programs under one umbrella and ensure that they are well-coordinated,” he explained.
He noted that his ministry will engage with the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education, and others to streamline their youth-related initiatives.
Opare Addo dismissed concerns that coordinating multiple ministries would be cumbersome, stating that proper coordination would help direct young people to relevant opportunities.
“If I know what Trade is doing for young people, then I can now point people in that direction. If I know what Agric is doing, then I can begin to direct young people towards those opportunities”
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
Addressing Duplicity in Youth Agencies
The minister acknowledged concerns about overlapping mandates among youth agencies, particularly the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
He clarified that these agencies have distinct roles: the NYA is responsible for developing young people’s skills and integrating them into decision-making processes, while the YEA is tasked with creating jobs.
He admitted that past administrations had allowed these agencies to operate without clear coordination, leading to inefficiencies and redundancies.
However, with both agencies now under the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, he assured that the government would streamline their activities to eliminate duplication and enhance efficiency.
A major pillar of the NDC government’s strategy is to foster entrepreneurship. Opare Addo emphasized that entrepreneurship is key to eradicating poverty and creating sustainable employment opportunities.
He highlighted the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP) as a crucial vehicle for supporting startups and small businesses.
He acknowledged financial constraints, noting that while the government had allocated GHS 100 million to the NEIP, additional funding would be sought from donor partners, the private sector, and individuals.
“My focus is not to depend solely on government. My focus is to go around and seek support from donors, the private sector and even individuals. So that we can push in a lot more money into this entrepreneurship thing. You know, it is only true entrepreneurship that we can really eradicate poverty from this country”.
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
The minister further stressed that the government is working to create an enabling environment for startups, ensuring that businesses have access to capital, mentorship, and market opportunities.
He argued that the traditional eight-to-five work structure is no longer sufficient to address unemployment and that fostering a culture of entrepreneurship would allow young people to build wealth and drive economic growth.
Restoring Investor Confidence
Opare Addo expressed optimism about Ghana’s economic prospects, stating that under the NDC government, investor confidence is gradually being restored.
He noted that during the latter part of the previous administration, many multinational companies exited the country due to economic instability and policy inconsistencies.
However, he assured that the NDC government is committed to transparency, stakeholder engagement, and creating a business-friendly environment to attract investments.
He highlighted that several international agencies and donor organizations have expressed renewed interest in supporting Ghana’s youth development agenda.
“Almost every donor I’ve engaged is upbeat about this government. We are doing things differently from the previous administration—more transparency, more partnership, and more dialogue. This has helped rebuild confidence in the system” .
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
Opare Addo affirmed the NDC’s government, under the leadership of President John Mahama outlined an ambitious yet structured plan to address youth unemployment and promote economic growth.
He emphasized that by establishing a dedicated Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, coordinating youth-related programs across government agencies, and fostering entrepreneurship, the government aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable employment ecosystem.
Minister George Opare Addo’s assurance of streamlined coordination, improved access to opportunities, and increased support for startups provides a renewed sense of hope for young Ghanaians.
With a clear commitment to addressing long-standing challenges, the NDC government’s youth empowerment agenda is poised to make a significant impact in the coming years.
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