Court to pass National Youth Policy Bill into law

The government has reaffirmed its commitment towards the rapid passage of the National Youth Policy Bill into law, to address the copious challenges militating against the youth of Ghana, and to ensure their effective empowerment.

The youth policy bill, when passed into law, would among other things, address the issues of youth employment, education, healthcare, skills development, as well as youth and HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina, said this in a speech read for him at the launch of the Northern Regional branch of the National Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development, otherwise known as 'Kerapa,' which translates in the Dagbani language as sanctity and good fortune.

Mr. Nayina said the government was committed to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development Plan of Action, which would hit its 15-year mark this year.

The Minister also added that the significance of the youth in nation building, cannot be underrated, and that the NDC government would explore their talents to ensure accelerated development to advance their wellbeing.

Speaking on the theme, “Sustainability: our challenge our future”, Apuri Yaw Williams, Northern Regional Coordinator of Kerapa, attributed the mass exodus of the Ghanaian youth to the neighbouring countries, to the astronomical increase in the rate of youth unemployment.

He urged the government to create more employment opportunities to engage the youth.

Mr. Apuri, however, entreated the youth of Ghana to stay at home and work hard to improve the living conditions of their people, rather than falling victim to illegal migration, and indulging in anti-social vices such as armed-robbery, internet fraud, prostitution and drug trafficking among others.

Other speakers at the function reiterated the need for the government and other development partners to support the Kerapa programme, which is aimed at bringing the youth of Ghana together, to build a united youth movement.