NYA marks African Youth Day with discussion on corruption

The National Youth Authority (NYA) has marked this year’s African Youth Day with a one day discussion on corruption for the youth to educate them with the needed information on how to become productive citizens to contribute significantly to national development.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “The Youth And The Fight Against Corruption, Raising youth voices against corruption” was organized for the youth to actively partake in the fight against corruption.

The Authority has thus called on the youth to become active advocates against corruption and to expose abuses and infractions in public financial management, within their localities whilst entreating them especially graduates from the various educational and training institutions to not sit idly awaiting the proverbial manna from heaven since those days are long gone, but to begin to scout for entrepreneurial opportunities within their environments that when exploited can put them on a sound footing to financial freedom.

The youth must eschew laziness and the get rich quick attitudes and be reminded at all times that there is dignity in labour.

Hon Alex Nii Noi Adumah, MCE for Adenta was optimistic that the menace against corruption would reduce to the barest minimum if the youth were equipped with the necessary skills to earn them a source of livelihood.

He equally compelled the youth to actively take part in the fight against corruption which the NYA deems highly appropriate, worthwhile and commendable.

Undoubtedly, corruption and its attendant negative effects remain vital obstructing factors to the country’s socio-economic development hence the NYA’s resolve to support the youth, the chief custodians of our nations heritage and future to assume a leading role in dealing with the scourge of corruption.

There were interventions implemented by the NYA in the last two years to advance the cause of youth development in Ghana.

The Authority in May, 2017, launched one of its flagship programs, the steps towards Employment and Productivity (STEP) Project which aims to impart artisan and vocational training to mainly unskilled youth, throughout the country.

3000 young persons have been trained in online digital marketing and entrepreneurship program that has enabled the beneficiaries to begin their own online businesses.

In the spirit of providing facilities to unearth sporting talents, the NYA is constructing ten (10) youth resource centers in all ten regions of Ghana. These centers do not merely provide opportunities for talent development but also offer counseling services, leisure and training facilities.

Additionally, the Authority has established “Youth Livelihood Farms” on a pilot basis in a bid to support the government flagship program – planting for food and jobs. This aims to create jobs for the young parsons in rural communities. The youth are provided with farming inputs as well as technical support.

In order to provide a more responsive youth development programme, the authority has begun stakeholder consultative meetings geared at reviewing the National youth policy of 2010.

This has become necessary to address some gaps identified in the document as well as to bring it up to par with current trends in youth development.

It is our hope that this round-table discussion will afford the youth the opportunity to learn and share more information on the subject of corruption and appreciate its negative effect on society and our youth and hence resolve to join in the fight against the canker.