Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Reymond Awusei Johnson
Published on 2024-03-30 12:23:10
Former President John Mahama recently announced his plans to establish a separate ministry for youth affairs in Ghana. At the unveiling of the National Democratic Congress’s National Youth Wing Secretariat and Campaign on March 29, 2024, Mahama highlighted the crucial role that youth play in building the nation and the need for targeted policies and initiatives to address their specific challenges and aspirations.
Mahama emphasized the importance of creating a standalone ministry for youth affairs, believing that it would streamline efforts to effectively address youth-related issues. By consolidating youth-related policies and programs under one umbrella, the government can ensure better coordination, resource allocation, and monitoring of initiatives aimed at empowering young Ghanaians.
One of the key reasons behind Mahama’s decision to separate the Youth and Sports Ministry was his observation of the disproportionate focus on football, neglecting other sports and avenues for youth development. He envisions a revamped ministry that not only prioritizes sports but also places significant emphasis on youth development.
As part of the restructuring efforts, Mahama proposes the establishment of a dedicated youth development service. This service aims to provide job opportunities for young individuals while aligning with his ambitious 24-hour economy initiative. The 24-hour economy initiative is designed to boost economic growth and job creation round the clock, highlighting the crucial role of youth participation in Ghana’s progress.
Mahama articulated his intentions, stating, “We are going to separate Youth and Sports because it’s a youth and sports ministry but over the years, what we do is that the concentration is on sports and even on sports, the concentration is on Black Stars at the expense of any other sports. So I’m going to set up a service for Youth development. It will focus primarily on Youth status in all sectors of the economy.”
He further elaborated on the importance of mainstreaming youth interests across all sectors of the economy and implementing strategies to generate employment opportunities for the youth. The ministry is poised to provide substantial support to the overarching goal of fostering a vibrant 24-hour economy.
Mahama’s vision for a dedicated ministry for youth affairs reflects his commitment to addressing the specific needs and aspirations of young Ghanaians. By centralizing youth-related policies and programs, he aims to create a more effective and coordinated approach to empowering the youth and driving economic growth in Ghana.
In conclusion, the establishment of a separate ministry for youth affairs under Mahama’s leadership represents a significant step towards prioritizing youth development and creating opportunities for young people in Ghana. His focus on the 24-hour economy initiative underscores the importance of youth participation in driving economic progress and building a prosperous future for the nation.
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