Be Passionate For Ghana Like Azonto- Nana Kobina Nketsia V

By:Romeo Adzah Dowokpor/The Republic

The Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, has challenged the youth of Ghana to translate their passion for 'azonto' into profitable passion for nation building.

Speaking at the official launch of the 2012 Ghana Youth Awards(GYA), Nana stated that, 'azonto' which is a popular style of music and dance, has taken over the passion of most Ghanaian youth to the detriment of a popular resolve of passion for developmental issues that confront us as a nation

Omanhene, who was also the chairman for the launch expressed his regret about the apathetic attitudes of many youth who have folded their arms in wait for national development rather be active participants in the call for change and the restructuring of the current status quo.

He added that, young men and women in Ghana and Africa must relive the spirits of Patrice Lumumba,Steven Biko and other illustrious sons and daughters of Africa who stood and fought for the cause of the general good of their people rather their parochial interests. He commended the organizers of the Ghana Youth Awards for showing “an abiding faith in Ghana”

To Omanehene, a nation cannot truly be developed unless its culture and heritage are developed to reflect their God given ways of life.

Nana Kobina Nketsia V,also stressed on the importance of serving our nation at all material times citing the death of our late President Atta Mills to buttress his case because to him, the late Professor served Ghana at the peril of his life.

In a welcome address at the launch of the GYA , the Executive Director of African Youth Network(AYONET) ,Mr. Emmanuel Ansah-Amprofi, called on government and decision makers not to only look at the youth as valuable resources that should be mobilized in support of local, national and global development but also make conscious interventions in providing them the necessary support and opportunities to maximize their potentials profitably.

Speaking to The Republic, Mr. Nii Ayi Anteh, the Public Relations Manager of GYA , stated that, the awards will primarily focus on the celebration of the youth, culture and creativity taking the center stage.

The GYA he said, is seeking to acknowledge the enormous contributions and exceptional achievements of many young Ghanaians both home and abroad even under challenging conditions for contributing their quota to national development; hence the institution of the award scheme to honour such outstanding personalities between the ages of 15-36 annually.

Awards will be given in sixteen individual categories ie Youth in Entrepreneurship, Youth in Science and Technology, Youth in Agriculture, Youth in Music, Arts and Culture, Youth in Community Service/ Volunteerism among others

Provisions are also made for three(3) group awards for National/Community Youth Organizations; Private sector supporting youth development and Media Organizations promoting positive youth development. A special award will also be given to a youth who has distinguished himself for undergoing a community service for five (5) or more years.

The 2012 Ghana Youth Awards will be held on the night of Africa Youth Day, November 3, 2012, at Accra International Conference Centre. lt will be preceded by a Presidential Youth Forum at the National Theater in Accra on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, where the youth of Ghana will dialogue with the presidential candidates of the various political parties.