Youth Without Borders Ghana Joins The Rest Of Africa In The Ten Year Commemoration Of The African Youth Charter In Banjul, The Gambia

The African Union Commission together with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Gambia and the Pan African Youth Union organized the ten year anniversary of the African Youth Charter under the theme, “10 Years Implementation of The African Youth Charter: Accelerating Youth Development in Africa." The celebrations hosted by The Gambia, where the Charter was adopted in 2006, at the African Union Summit of Heads of State.

As a key stakeholder of youth development in Ghana and Africa, Youth Without Borders Ghana had the pleasure of invitation from the African Union Commission (AUC) and The Gambian Government as well as the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) to participate in the event. Representing Ghana and her youth were Executive Director of Youth Without Borders Ghana, Mr. Musa Frimpong (Youth Volunteer in the Youth Division of the African Union Commission (AUC)) and Mr. Ephraim Awinbugri Armstrong, also a member of Youth Without Borders Ghana.

Youth Without Borders Ghana Executive Director, Mr. Frimpong Musa

The commemoration of the Tenth anniversary of the African Youth Charter (AYC) which was hosted by the government of the Islamic Republic of The Gambia took place from 21^st to 25^th May 2016 in Banjul under the high patronage of the President of The Gambia represented by the Vice President.

Banjul+10 provided a high-level political platform for intergenerational discourse and advocacy, stakeholder’s interaction, agenda setting and celebration of African youth initiatives. The meeting facilitated inclusive consultations that will set the baseline for assessing progress in the youth development targets of Africa’s growth and development paradigm beyond 2015.

The outcomes of the event of Banjul+10 will feed into the second meeting of the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Youth, Culture and Sports also serving as the platform towards the preparation of the roadmap for the 2017 'African Year for Harnessing Demographic Dividends for accelerated Youth Empowerment'.

In this regard, based on the outcomes of the parallel working groups, High-level ministerial panels, as well as the youth pre-conference sessions, the Ministers in charge of Youth affairs, the African Youth leaders and partners having met in Banjul, The Gambia from 24^th to 25^th May 2016 agreed on some key recommendations. The recommendations centered around the African Youth Decade Plan of Action, the Demographic Dividend of Africa, the Iplementatation of the African Youth Charter, the AU theme for the year 2017 as well as the institutionalization of the Intergenerational Dialogue.

Section of event participants at the Paradise Suites Hotel, Banjul, The Gambia

The event brought together over four hundred (400) youth from across the 54 countries in Africa and the diaspora. Present also were Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President of The Gambia, The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union Commission, Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Hon. Alieu K. Jammeh, Minister of Youth and Sports Gambia , Ms. Irina Bokava – Director General, UNESCO , H.E. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin – Executive Director, UNFPA , H.E. Ms. Faith Pansy Tlakula – Chairperson, ACHPR , H.E Madam Ade – UN Resident Representative, UNDP Gambia and Ms. Francine Muyumba, President Pan African Youth Union .

Some of the recommendations agreed included:

1. The AUC was requested to submit the Outcome Document to the STC in charge of Youth, Culture and Sport for endorsement by the relevant AU Policy Organs.
2. The 2017 African Union Roadmap on “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth” should be finalized with the inputs from the Banjul+10 meeting and presented to the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) meeting of AU Ministers in Charge of Youth, Culture and Sports;
3. The STC in charge of Youth, Culture and Sports should deepen its deliberations in order to effectively contribute to the AU theme of the Summit for 2017 on “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through investments in the youth”, both in the context of the implementation of the roadmap on demographic dividend and Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda (SDGs).
4. It was unanimously agreed that with the assistance of AU Member States, each delegate reports back to the respective constituencies the outcomes of Banjul+10 using existing and innovative means and the media.

Youth Without Borders Ghana commends the organizers of the event, particularly, The African Union Commission(AUC) for holding this memorable event and prioritizing the development of Africa Youth. As a youth development and empowerment organization, we call on the Government of Ghana and her development partners to ensure the full implementation and the realization of the provision of the Youth Charter. This we believe will go a long way to enhance the socioeconomic development of Ghana and her Youth.