National Youth Authority Outlines Key Achievements At Maiden Nation Building Updates Forum

The National Youth Authority (NYA) has outlined some notable projects and initiatives embarked upon in the last three and half years of operation during the recently held Nation Building Updates organized by the Ministry of Information on Tuesday 22nd September, 2020 at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra.

Making the presentation dubbed Youth Development Initiatives – The Success Stories of the NYA, Mr. Sylvester Tetteh, CEO of the Authority listed a number of programmes and projects embarked on by the Authority since the coming into office of the NPP government, which also touched on four (4) key thematic areas: Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurial Development; Governance and Leadership; International Youth Networking and Leadership and Infrastructure Development, all of which in his words have had a positive impact on the Ghanaian youth.

On Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurial Development for instance, Mr. Sylvester Tetteh mentioned the Youth in Sustainable Development Challenge which the Authority in partnership with the UNDP organized of which 16 sixteen young persons with innovative business ideas were rewarded and supported with $5000.00 each, totaling $80,000.00 to kick-start their businesses. These training Mr. Tetteh said were also taken through a 3-month business incubation training which heped boos their business acumen.

On Governance and Leadership, Mr. Sylvester Tetteh mentioned the 2010 National Youth Policy which through the guidance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the leadership of the sector Minister, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah (MP) has successfully  undergone a review process to bring it up to speed with current trends in youth development service delivery. “It is refreshing to note that the draft revised policy comes with an implementation and monitoring framework, which wasn’t the case for the 2010 document” Mr. Tetteh intimated.

On nurturing and promoting the spirit of volunteerism amongst the youth whilst enhancing national cohesion and integration, Mr. Tetteh recalled two youth volunteer work camps which the Authority organized in 2018 & 2019for a total of 1,100 youth nationwide. These work camps Mr. Tetteh said revolved around three modules, i.e Infrastructure, Education and Environment & Sanitation. Additionally, a National Youth Volunteer Infrastructure is being developed alongside the National Volunteer Programme which is expected to be launched in October 2020, targeting 100,000 young people to volunteer in diverse sectors of the economy.  

In the area of International Youth Networking and Leadership, the CEO enumerated a lot of activities undertaken by the Authority including the sponsorship and support of Ghanaian youth to vie for and be elected into such positions as the Vice –Chair of Partnerships & Resources (Ms. Abena Dugan) and African Regional Rep. (Eleanor Klinogo) of the Commonwealth Youth Council and Mr. Ahmed Benning who is the Acting General-Secretary of the Pan African Youth Forum. “It is instructive to note that Ms. Abena Dugan and Ms. Eleanor Klinogo clinched two of nine positions that were available” Mr. Tetteh further intimated.

On infrastructural projects, Mr. Sylvester Tetteh laid emphasis on the ten (10) Youth Resource Centers of Excellence being constructed by the Authority with support from the Youth and Sports Ministry in the ten former regions of Ghana. Phase one of these projects which according to Mr. Tetteh are all nearing completion and are expected to be handed over to government by end of October comprise both sporting and non-sporting facilities such as FIFA sized pitches, running tracks, multi-purpose courts, mentoring, coaching and counseling centers, business incubation hubs, youth clinics and hostels for some selected centers.

“It is expected that tens of thousands of young persons will benefit from these Resource Centers when finally completed” Mr. Sylvester Tetteh concluded.