Ghana Network of Youth with Disabilities officially inaugurated

The National Youth Authority (NYA), has inaugurated the Ghana Network of Youth with Disabilities (GNYD), a platform aimed at building an inclusive, empowered, and unified youth front where no young person is left behind. The event, held at Sunlodge Hotel in Tesano, was themed “Advancing Equal Opportunities for Youths with Disabilities: The Role of the Movement of Youths with Disabilities.”

The Deputy CEO for Operations and Programs at the National Youth Authority (NYA), Alhaji Inusah Mahama in his Keynote address emphasized that the establishment of GNYD aligns with Ghana's commitment to the African Youth Charter, which guarantees the rights of all youth, including those with disabilities, to fully participate in education, employment, culture, governance, and civic life. He noted that the National Youth Authority, under Act 939 and the National Youth Policy, dedicates an entire pillar to youth with special needs. He reaffirmed that the creation of GNYD is a core responsibility, not an afterthought. He further pledged that youth with disabilities would not just be participants but active contributors in decision-making processes, with competent individuals being nominated for youth committees and national delegations.

Mr. Inusah concluded by inaugurating the interim working group tasked with establishing the National Network of Youth with Disabilities, urging them to make the Network an unstoppable voice and a platform for young people with disabilities to claim their rightful place and impact the nation's future.

David Agyemang, Lead Director for SightSavers, expressed that the establishment of the interim working group marks a significant step toward creating an inclusive, empowered youth front in Ghana. He highlighted that the GNYD will amplify voices, build leadership capacity, and ensure that disability-inclusive development is a central part of youth policy. He commended the NYA for their bold step and pledged SightSavers’ continued support.

Michael Obeng, Chairperson of the Youth Committee at the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, shared the state of youth with disabilities in Ghana, citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which found that over two million Ghanaians live with disabilities, including hundreds of thousands of young people. He criticized the lack of inclusion of youth with disabilities in national policies and programs, stating that they are often treated as an afterthought. He emphasized that the GNYD is not just an organization, but a movement, a declaration of their demand for dignity, visibility, and equal opportunities.

"We are not asking for sympathy; we are demanding the right to work, to learn, to love, and to live fully," He said.