Youth must work hard and not expect miracles – Paulos

Samuel Paulos, Director of Gateway for Youth Foundation (GYF), a youth advocacy group, has charged Ghanaian youth to take advantage of the existing peace and stability in the country, to develop their talents.

He affirmed that despite the myriad of economic challenges bedeviling the nation, the unity and the existence of strong institutions, provides lots of business opportunities for the youth to exploit.

“The youth of today must not sit on their laps and wait for miracles to happen. As youths you must instead work extra hard to search the numerous opportunities available to improve upon your economic life,” he insisted.

Mr. Paulos offered the advice when addressing a youth forum which was organized by the Africa Youth Network (AYN), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Accra on Wednesday.

The forum was preceded by the launch of the 2012 Ghana Youth Awards (GYA). While urging the youth to change the status-quo by being more innovative, Mr. Paulos encouraged lending institutions to soften their collateral demands, to create a more conducive business atmosphere for the youth to exploit.

He however mentioned greed, lack of checks and balances and lack of coordination among youth organizations, as hampering the developments of the youth in the country.

“As the future of this country depend on you, it is important you work hard to ensure proper coordination among yourselves, and see how best to resolve existing and pertinent challenges to improve upon your financial standing,” he said, adding, that is why his organization has taken particular interest in developing raw talents in the country.

It was in this direction that Mr. Paulos reiterated that it is important that young people who have excelled in their field of endeavors and find themselves in the Diaspora return home to give back to the society.

On his part, the Executive Director of AYN, Emmanuel Ansah-Amprofi, in an address disclosed that the award is aimed at recognizing the efforts of Ghanaian youth in all field of endeavors across the world.

He added that it also seeks to acknowledge the achievements of exceptional young people and crucially to inspire other young people to achieve greater heights.

Mr. Ansah-Amprofi seized the opportunity to call on individuals and corporate organizations to commit part of their social responsibility funds to support the program.

The award ceremony scheduled later in the year is expected to award 16 individual categories, three groups, and a long term commitment award to an organization that has supported youth development for five years in the country.