Youth Ministry reaffirms commitment to empowering young people in digital age

The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has reaffirmed its commitment to creating opportunities that enable young people across Ghana to develop their skills, pursue decent work and contribute to national development.

The Ministry stated this to commemorate International Youth Day on Wednesday. The global theme for this year’s celebration is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” while Ghana is commemorating the day under the national theme, “Rebuilding Values, Inspiring Patriotism: Empowering the Youth in the Digital Age.”

The Ministry said the global theme recognises that although young people live in different communities and face different challenges, they share common aspirations for quality education, meaningful employment, innovation, dignity, inclusion and a better future.

It said Ghana’s national theme complements the global theme by drawing attention to the need to rebuild values, strengthen patriotism and equip young people with digital skills and opportunities. It added that rebuilding values, inspiring patriotism and empowering young people in the digital age would help Ghana create a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society where every young person has the opportunity to realise their potential.

According to the Ministry, Ghana needs a new generation of responsible, technology-savvy and civic-minded citizens who can use digital transformation to contribute to national development.

The Ministry said young people in urban centres, rural communities, educational institutions, workplaces and entrepreneurial spaces continue to demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination.

It said their contributions to national development are evident in business, technology, agriculture, the arts, sports, public service and community leadership.

The Ministry also noted that young people are already agents of change and contributing to local and national development.

As part of its commitment to youth empowerment, the Ministry said it would continue to expand opportunities for skills development and lifelong learning, support youth entrepreneurship and innovation, promote decent employment and economic inclusion, and strengthen youth participation in governance and civic engagement.

It will also continue to promote mental health awareness and psychosocial support for young people.

The Ministry called on government institutions, the private sector, development partners, civil society organisations, educational institutions and communities to work together to create an environment where every young person can thrive.

It said stakeholders must support young people to uphold values such as integrity, discipline, hard work and patriotism while using digital opportunities responsibly and productively.

The Ministry further called for efforts to ensure that young people are not left behind because of their location, gender, ability or socioeconomic background. It said the different experiences of young people should not prevent them from pursuing shared aspirations for education, employment, innovation, dignity, inclusion and a better future.

The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment is responsible for coordinating and implementing policies that promote youth development and empowerment and ensuring that young people have the skills, opportunities and support needed.