Mahama Ayariga urges corporate entities to do more for the youth

Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mahama Ayariga has called on everyone especially corporate organizations to invest in Ghana’s young population.

Speaking as the Special guest of honor at the 2014 Head of State Awards Scheme’s cocktail dubbed ‘Friends reception’ in Accra on Friday November 14, the sports minister said: “investing in the youth is the best investment a country can have. This is why Government has continually invested in this sector to ensure and instigate sustainable growth of our Country’’.

He explained, the GH10 million that had been allocated for youth enterprise development is one of the many social interventions put in place by Government to ensure the continual development of our youth. Youth development happens when positive experiences are sustained over time. This is what creates competence and meaning and builds a foundation for establishing adult behaviors.

He commended the scheme for sustaining itself over the years despite the little resource and challenges it sometimes faces in its operations and pledged government’s continuous support to ensure it achieves its vision of reaching more young and underprivileged Ghanaians all over the country.

In separate speeches, the Director of the Scheme, Mr. Peter Akain Anum and Chair of board of trustees, Mr. Henry Morgan Miniski were both grateful to individual and corporate organizations who continually donate to help sustain the scheme’s activities in the development of young people in Ghana.

They both appealed for more support to help the scheme reach its target of enrolling 5% of the young population as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2017.

Special Presentations were made to three individuals and companies who supported the scheme’s work in 2014. Also present at the reception were Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, Dr. Lesley A. Poku (Vice Chair of the board of trustees), Ms. Nadia Ismaila (Chair of the Friends Program), Ms. Yvonne Okoro, Ms. Efya Awindor (Brand Ambassadors for the scheme) and former captain of the Black Stars, Mr. Stephen Appiah.

The Head of State Award Scheme-Ghana is a member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation that engages young people in an exciting self-developing programme worldwide by providing leisure time activities to fill gaps left by formal tuition as well as equip young people with life skills, build their confidence and engage them in communal activities so they can make a difference.