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The National Youth Authority (NYA) has engaged stakeholders in its final consultative meeting for their inputs towards the review of 2010 National Youth Policy to address emerging issues affecting Ghanaian youth in order to reflect on current demands.

The meeting which forms part of the NYA process to review its national policy was held on Wednesday 19th December, 2018 at Accra Digital Centre under the theme: “Towards An Empowered Youth, Impacting Positively On National Development” was organized to help offer general framework for government to connect the youth and stakeholders in a significantly meaningful manner to develop proper intervention and services for youth empowerment and development.

Speaking at the meeting, Board Chairperson of NYA, Hon. Franscica Oteng Mensah, explained that the National Youth Policy is a working document that will help the activities of the youth.

The policy should be devoid from any political ideology that will divert the main intent of the policy.

“It shouldn’t be that the political parties will take over the whole discussion of the review policy; that is why we invite students from various institutions, Regional Heads of Department, the National Youth Authority, Traditional Rulers, Media, Consultants heads of institutions etc. so that we can all have a very good working document for the betterment of the Ghanaian youth,” she said.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NYA, Mr. Emmanuel Asigiri also expressed confidence in the review process says he believes the policy which is detailed, well-structured will be ready by the first quarter of 2019.

“The youth played crucial role in the socio economic development of our country, aside they being future leaders, they should also be taken seriously in discussing issues relating to national development,” he stressed. 

“The existing national policy in its current form is not fit for purpose, there is a need to align the existing policy to government’s developmental agenda as well as other relevant national development protocols and frameworks such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals referred to as SDGs and AGENDA 2030 of the African Union. Again the data in the existing policy is based on the 2000 population census by the Ghana statistical service; there is therefore the need to capture recent data using the 2010 population housing census to reflect current trends." 

So far many stakeholder meetings have been held with the relevant bodies and this final meeting will be the ultimate in the series of consultations for the review process. The final coalition will then be presented to the ministry of youth and sports. It is expected that all the reviewed policy and implementation will take effect from the first quarter of next year.”