Youth deserves opportunity to develop - MP

Peki Avetile (V/R), April 24 GNA - The Member of Parliament for South Dayi Constituency in the Volta Region, Dr Kwame Ampofo on Saturday called for hard work and improvement of the human resource base of the country.

He condemned stereotyping of youth development strategies, which he said, continues to worsen the plight of the youth, especially in the sport disciplines.

Dr Ampofo told the Ghana News Agency after interacting with players and officials of SD United FC, a second division football team within the Newly created South Dayi District, formed by the MP in collaboration with chiefs and other identifiable bodies to foster unity and nurture the talents of the youth.

The MP called on the Ministry of Education and Sports, and Manpower, Youth and Employment to create enabling environment for career development of the youth, especially sports men and women.

Dr Ampofo also stressed the need for the Ministry of Finance to allocate more funds to enable ministries, agencies and departments to implement youth sensitive programmes.

He discarded outmoded traditional practices that did not allow the youth to exercise their choices in terms of decision-making on health, education, childbirth and marriage.

Major decisions concerning the youth were only done by adults, adding that, "today human rights recognises that all human beings have the same rights and that the youth are free to make their own choices." Mr Tony Kafui Dei, Coach of the SD United FC, called on citizens of the traditional area to make financial and logistical support towards enhancing the provision of sports facilities and the promotion of sports in the district

He said gone were the days when sporting activities were organised purely on amateur basis, stressing that, now sports is big business and should be managed as such.

Mr Kafui Dei said even though there is some degree of amateurism in our sports, especially in the rules and regulation of some sporting authorities, there is a general misconception about the development of sport in the country.

He said development of sporting facilities required a lot of resources, which government alone cannot exclusively bear. " It is in this regard that we are calling on all citizens for their support," the coach stated. He commended Dr Ampofo, who donated two footballs, a set of jerseys and other logistics for their training and camping programmes.