“Investing In The Youth For Ghana’s Transformation”: The Right Theme  For The Post 2015 Era

The choice of theme for Ghana’s 59th Independence Anniversary celebrations ”Investing in the Youth for Ghana’s Transformation”, is perhaps one of the most thoughtful, timely and apt declarations of the nation since 1957.

Given the acknowledgement worldwide that the most reliable means of attaining transformation of the economies of sub- saharan African countries, is investment in the huge numbers of young people in the Sub – Region and the recommendation of key youth development interventions as priority areas for the nation’s post-2015 development agenda, the theme is an emphatic declaration of a new direction,as regards the developmental agenda of Ghana in the post 2015 era.

It is indeed, acceptance of the challenge from the global community to transform the youth bulge of Ghana from a social problem to a huge resource, and also a way of kick starting the post 2015 era in accordance with the demands of the sustainable development goals, which of course, is now the framework of the development agenda of the world.

It is also pertinent to mention practical steps taken by the nation such as; enactment of the Youth Employment Agency Act,2015(ACT 887) which gives legal backing to youth employment matters and therefore tremendously addresses the challenges assoociated with the case with NYEP and GYEEDA,the assurance by the President of the Republic,His Excellency John Dramani Mahama that One Hundred Thousand jobs will be provided to the youth by the close of 2016 in this year’s State of the Nation address and disbursement of funds to selected young entrepreneurs under the Youth Enterprise Support Initiative and upgrading of polytechnics to technical universities ,among others, as clear indication ,that Ghana is not only committed to the terms of the SDGs but has started their implementation in time.

It is the hope of the FYPD,however, that Government and the nation as a whole will remain committed to this course and ensure a transformation of the nation through huge investment in the youth.

JOSEPH TETTEH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH,PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT(FYPD)
0244571090.
E-MAIL:[email protected]