Gov’t recognizes the role of youth in national devt - Veep

Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Friday said Government recognized the critical role the youth play in national development, hence interventions to support them.

He said government has instituted structures, schemes and interventions not only to transform the lives of the youth but also to empower them for nation building.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur made the remarks in a speech read on his behalf at the seventh Young Professionals Transformational Leadership Conference on the theme: “Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders for Africa’s Transformation” in Accra.

The conference was Young Professional and Youth Coalition’s (YPYC) flagship programme, where young professionals from diverse fields met to learn, and share information on how to maximise their leadership potential towards national development.

The Vice President said government would continue to train the youth to make them leaders of the next generation.

He commended the management of YPYC for their creativity and foresight in transforming the young professionals and leaders of the country, and promised government through the Ministry of Sports would form a partnership with the coalition to scale up entrepreneurship spirit in the youth to harness the potentials.

Dr Kwame Addo Kufour, a former Minister of Defence, said the two critical challenges that affected nation building were corruption and indiscipline.

He said leaders must make sure they have their hands “clean”, when executing their leadership duties, and called on government appointees to openly declare their assets, saying “it is a game changer in the fight against corruption.”

Dr Joyce Aryee, Founder, Salt and Light Ministries, speaking on “integrity” said integrity was needed in all levels of leadership.

She said some of the integrity indicators include keeping promises, reliability, accountability, responsiveness, transparency and respectfulness.

The former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines urged leaders to surround themselves with morally upright individuals to help them accomplish their duties.

As part of the conference, young professionals’ role model awards were given to individuals and organsiations.

Ms Nadia Ismaila, CEO of British International School won the Young Professional Role model Female Awards, while Nana Kwame Bediako, CEO of Pretonia City and Wonda Estates Limited won the Young Professionals Role Model Awards Male Category.

Dr Kofi Osei Kusi, CEO Osei Kusi Foundation was adjudged the Young Professional in Youth Development and Motivation, and Ms Dentaa Amoateng, CEO of the Ghana United Kingdom-Based Achievement Awards (GUBA) was the Young Professional in Business and Innovation.

The Young Professional Honorary awardees included the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, Major Albert Don Chebe (Rtd), the Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, while Mr Stephen Appiah, the former Captain of the Black Stars, was adjudged the Young Professional in Sports Leadership.

Mr Richard Yaw Addo got the Young Professional Role Model in Entrepreneurship and Mr Kwame Sefa Kayi had Young Professional Role Model in Journalism and Media Development.

The rest were World Vision International, overall Young Professional Organization, Samara Group Limited, Young Professional Organisation in Business and Marie Stopes International, Young Professional Organisation in Education.