"10 stadiums are too many!" — Zongo Youth Chairman

The Chairman of the Zongo Youth Association, Bun Bida Mohammed, has mounted pressure on President John Dramani Mahama's government to reconsider its GH¢600 million sports infrastructure investment under the 2027 Budget, insisting that youth employment and skills development must receive greater attention.

Mr Mohammed believes government risks missing a critical opportunity to transform the lives of thousands of unemployed young people if substantial resources continue to be channelled into sports infrastructure at the expense of vocational training and economic empowerment.

Speaking to newsmen after the Finance Minister presented the 2027 Budget, he questioned the decision to construct 10 multipurpose regional stadia when many young Ghanaians are struggling to acquire employable skills and secure sustainable livelihoods.

Although he acknowledged the importance of sports development, he argued that the country's immediate development priorities should include creating opportunities for young people to become economically independent.

He therefore proposed that government reduce the planned stadium projects from 10 to five and use the resources saved to establish vocational and technical training institutes across the country.

According to him, these institutions would equip young people with practical skills to establish businesses, create employment for themselves and contribute meaningfully to national development.

NATIONAL YOUTH AUTHORITY DESERVES MORE FUNDING

Mr Mohammed also expressed concern over the inadequate resources available to the National Youth Authority, arguing that the institution responsible for youth development was not receiving the financial and logistical support it deserved.

He contrasted its situation with that of the National Sports Authority, which he believes enjoys considerably greater attention and resources.

He called on government to strengthen the National Youth Authority to enable it to implement meaningful programmes that address unemployment, skills development and other challenges confronting young people.

MAHAMA FACES APPEAL OVER ZONGO YOUTH
The Zongo Youth Association Chairman made a special appeal to President Mahama to consider establishing a technology hub and vocational training centre at Asokore Mampong Zongo in the Ashanti Region.

He described youth development in the area as very poor and said the community urgently needed government intervention to change the situation.

He explained that a well-equipped technology and vocational centre would provide young people with opportunities to acquire modern skills, explore entrepreneurship and develop sustainable sources of income.

Mr Mohammed stressed that Zongo communities must not be neglected in the distribution of development projects and government interventions.

'GIVE THE YOUTH SOMETHING TO LIVE ON'

Touching on the relationship between unemployment and crime, he warned that the failure to create economic opportunities for young people could contribute to rising criminal activities.

He argued that when young people have decent jobs, vocational skills and opportunities to establish their own businesses, they are more likely to become productive members of society.

He therefore appealed to government to make youth employment a major priority in its development agenda.

Despite expressing appreciation for the support the association has received from government, Mr Mohammed maintained that more concrete interventions were needed to address the developmental challenges confronting Zongo communities.

He called for fairness in national development, insisting that young people in Zongo communities deserve the same opportunities, infrastructure and economic empowerment programmes available to other parts of the country.