Dr Osei Okrah urges youth to challenge injustice and lead change

The President and Founder of the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC), Dr Andy Osei Okrah, has challenged young people to stand up and demand change when they encounter injustice in society.

He made the call at the 17th YPYC Africa Transformation Summit and Africa Role Model Awards, held under the theme “Leadership in Action: Breaking Barriers and Building Success,” held at the University of Ghana ISSER Hall on October 31, 2026.

Dr Osei Okrah said the organisation’s mission was to develop young leaders who would drive positive change.

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“We need young people to be bold enough to question our leaders, courageous enough to challenge injustice, innovative enough to develop solutions, and tough enough to resist violence to have their rights. And that’s why YPYC is not just about leadership that I talked about; it’s not just about trust. We don’t just do leadership; we also do about challenging the established. Building transformational leaders.

“As a youth organisation, we must continue to build bridges across differences, create opportunities for those often overlooked, and ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, gender, financial status or social standing, can become a leader,” he said.

At the awards, Mohammed Nurideen was named the Overall Role Model for 2026, while the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, received the Africa Role Model Lifetime Achievement Award in Traditional Leadership.

The summit’s special guest, Central University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kwasi Dartey Baah, also urged young people to look beyond their circumstances and become agents of change.



“Leadership is the responsibility you demonstrate. It is not determined by the office you occupy, the convoy that accompanies you, the number of people who report to you, or the applause you receive. Leadership is measured by the difference you make in the lives of others.

“Indeed, the most consequential leaders are not necessarily those who stand at the top of the organisation. They are those who are willing to stand up for what is right, stand with those who are disadvantaged, and stand firm when circumstances demand courage. My dear young people, Ghana does not simply need a generation that is educated. Ghana needs a generation that is prepared to lead. We need young people who are not merely looking for opportunities or waiting to be given solutions," he noted.



Former Finance Minister Seth Terkper, who read a speech on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, called on young people to be ready to lead wherever they find themselves.

“If you are waiting for an ideal, perfect environment before you step forward to lead, you will wait forever. Leaders do not wait for conditions to be favourable. Leaders create the conditions under which success can be achieved,” he said.

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