Vice President calls for nationwide collaboration to empower Ghana's youth

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has urged a unified national effort to unlock the full potential of the country’s youth, stressing that collaboration between government, the private sector and local communities is key to creating meaningful opportunities.

Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment as part of her second round of engagements with first-time ministers, on January 14, 2026 Prof Opoku-Agyemang lauded Ghana’s youth for their innovation and potential.

She also commended the Ministry for its inclusivity policies, including the 50 percent representation initiative and urged special attention for young girls, women and vulnerable groups, particularly out-of-school youth and those in informal employment.

The Vice President stressed that youth development is a cross-cutting issue, spanning education, health, agriculture and security.

She highlighted the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation, effective tracking and evaluation of youth programmes and public education on drug abuse prevention.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang also called for stronger protection against exploitation.

“The progress of various programs must be measured. Tracking studies are crucial so we know the impact of our interventions and can determine how to sustain and expand them. Understanding how our youth are benefiting ensures we remain on course,” she said.

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Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, highlighted the pressing challenge of youth unemployment, noting that 22.5 percent of young people in Ghana are unemployed, with higher rates among women and urban youth.

He identified agriculture, which employs 35.8 percent of young people, as a key sector for job creation under the government’s “Attractive Campaign.”

“The agriculture sector can provide numerous opportunities for young people. Through initiatives like the Attractive Campaign, we aim to make agriculture a viable and appealing career path for the youth,” he explained.

The minister further outlined plans to strengthen technical and vocational education, review youth employment programmes and establish an entrepreneurship fund.

He proposed allocating 80 percent of the Communication Service Tax to youth development and called for swift implementation of the Labour Instrument on Domestic Work to safeguard young workers, particularly girls.

“This is Ghana’s youth ministry. Considering that young people aged 0–35 make up nearly 68 percent of our population, it is concerning that the ministry is underfunded.

"With the proper allocation of the Communication Service Tax, we can expand programs under the Youth Enterprise Agency (YEA), the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), and the National Youth Authority, ensuring that our young people receive the support they need to thrive,” Opare Addo said.

The visit concluded with the presentation of a plaque by the ministry to the vice president in recognition of her immense support for the welfare and development of Ghana’s youth.

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