2015 International Youth Day marked in Ghana

The International Youth Day has been marked in Ghana on Wednesday with a call on all youth to come under the action 2015 banner with a strong voice to demand for action from Government to be proactive in its decision making processes ahead of the US summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) slated for September 25-27 which they will be expected to sign unto in New York.

The International Youth Day (IYD) is a day set aside to celebrate the role of the youth towards nation building which is marked annually and globally on the 12th of August.

This year’s event in Ghana was marked as a youth forum which took place at various locations concurrently including Accra, Kumasi, and Nsawam with lots of activities ranging from flash mobs, public forums, celebrity talks, quiz competitions amongst others.

In Accra, the event was observed as a youth forum at the Action Senior High and Technical School located at Madina, a suburb of Accra. In attendance were more than 500 students drawn from 3 Senior and Junior High Schools respectively.

They converged at the School’s Assembly hall where various Youth Activists Group Leaders took turns to address and sensitized them on the significance of the day, why the world will migrate from the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals and the essence of the action 2015 campaign which they are expected to play a role as a way of contributing their quota towards nation building.

They were also meant to understand that being a youth and sharing in the membership of the action 2015 campaign with one strong voice gives them the power to demand from government fairness and also hold him accountable to his promises ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit (SDGs) slated for December 25-27 in New York.

Ms. Aku Xornam Kevi, Executive Director of the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYD), the main organizer of the event, encouraged the youth to lead the change and demand for action from government to be committed towards the summit and to make the right decisions as Ghana migrates from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals in September which government is expected to back.

In her presentation, she stated: “it is with belief that 2015 is a critical year for progress in the fight against climate change, poverty and equality hence the need for action on part of youths to effect a radical change.

“It behooves on our leaders to make a good decision throughout this major events because whatever the outcome, it’ll go a long way in shaping the future of the people and this planet for the next 15 years. We as youths must be stand and raise our voice to see that the right thing is done simply because the future belongs to us and we must protect it” Ms Kevi stressed.

She explained with such a dramatic moments to come, world leaders are expected to take action and be committed to taking good decisions and exercising fairness in their dealings ahead of the remaining two major conferences which the youth has a greater role to play in determining the future as the outcome of the events.

This, she said was the reason for the call to back action 2015 campaign which 22 million people all over the world has come on board to mobilize the youth with one voice towards achieving the purpose which is to demand their rights from government and hold him accountable for his actions in their decision making process to transform the world from poverty, gender inequality, halting the spread of HIV and AIDS and other pertinent challenges that confronts people on daily basis worldwide.

She therefore urged the youth to demonstrate solidarity and show their commitment by raising their voice to back the call for action 2015 campaign which is in full gear at the moment as the world marks the International Youth Day.

According to the Executive Director of the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYD), one of such event is the well-talked about Sustainable Development Goals Summit which is scheduled to take place in September, 25-27 in New York.

The second major event which she mentioned was the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) which is slated for 30th November-11th December 2015 in Paris, France including the immediate past UN’s third financing for development summit which was held in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia between 13-16 July.

Mad. Georgina Amoaku, Head teacher of the Action Senior High School admonished the students not to allow their youthful life to derail them into improper behaviors which will eventually ruin their future.

“Youthful life is full of fantasies and enthusiasm and this shouldn't lead you as youths into unacceptable behaviors and Juvenile differences. As a youths, you must be disciplined and God fearing; concentrate on your studies and be able to become a responsible adult" she stated.

The event also witnessed a quiz competition which saw the Action Senior High School emerging as overall winners, followed by the WASS Experimental JHS placing 2nd position and the Glorious International School adjudged as third place winners.

They were presented each with souvenirs in addition to a certificate of honor and a plaque.

Action2015 is a growing citizens’ movement made up of almost 2000 organizations, networks and coalitions from 148 countries including 22 million actions so far.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is being expanded to tackle a lot of world problems will be replace by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Goals summit in New York between September, 25-27.

World leaders, governments, civil Society Organizations including the media are expected to be part of the conference to make a change which will binding by countries all over the world for 15 years.

The Millennium Development Goals are the eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.