Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Isaac Asiama has reiterated his ministry’s commitment towards prioritizing youth development in his government’s programmes.
According to the minister, the many youth economic intervention empowerment programmes that are being outlined and inaugurated since the beginning of the year attest to government’s desire to shape as well as build the capacity of the youth to take on more active roles in Ghana’s economic and social development.
Honourable Isaac Asiamah made these assertions during a 2 – Day Orientation Workshop for Regional and District Directors of the National Youth Authority in Koforidua.
The leadership of the National Youth Authority gathered at the Eastern Premier Hotel in the Eastern regional capital to hold a two day capacity building workshop for its district and regional directors to take them through the new direction they are charting as an organization.
The minister in enumerating a number of ventures which he noted were evidences of government’s dedication towards youth development, said these ventures are designed to build youth capacity.
“Programmes such as the ‘one district, one factory,’ ‘planting for food and jobs’ and the establishments of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NYEP) among other salient ventures attest to government’s desire to shape as well as build the capacity of the youth to take on more active roles in Ghana’s economic and social development,” he noted.
The minister also entreated the directors to ensure that no young person is left out of the benefits of the government’s youth development intervention programmes.
He confessed his bias towards youth volunteerism and patriotism which he observed were essential values for national development, adding that inspiring the youth in acts of volunteerism and community service develops in them a culture of belongingness and acceptance.
“In calling upon the youth to engage in volunteerism and community service, we develop in them leadership skills, entrepreneurship qualities, team building, respect for diversity and then ultimately, a culture of belongingness and acceptance which are necessary for national development and stability, Hon Asiamah underscored.
On his part, chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Asigri challenged the directors to abandon ‘the old approach to doing things and embrace the attitude of diligence, responsibility, prudence and proactive initiatives.’
This, he contends is the surest way to realize the mandate that challenges the solution of four key aspirations of the youth of this country grouped under the four thematic areas of the NYA which include employability, social inclusion, active citizenship and personal fulfillment.
In an interview with Rite news, he explained that the workshop was necessary since the authority is currently operating under a new mandate in terms of the act that establishes the National Youth Authority.
The National Youth Authority act 2016 requires the setting up of a Youth Development Authority (YDA) to harmonize and coordinate all government-sponsored youth initiatives and policies.
He indicated that though only the National Youth Authority was currently operating in one 52 out of the 216 districts nationwide, measures are being put in place to ensure that the authority is operational in the rest of the districts.
“It is sad to indicate that we have 216 districts but currently, only 52 are operational. But then, we have put measures in place to ensure that the other districts that are not operational are operating.”
The strategy to get the other districts operational, Mr. Asigri intimated is to meet the various Municipal and district Chief Executives of affected districts to ensure that the NYA is operational.
Source: ritefmonline.org
