The Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA), in collaboration with the National Youth Authority (NYA), has officially inaugurated the District Youth Committee, marking a significant milestone in strengthening youth participation in governance and development within the municipality.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Municipal Assembly Hall, brought together key stakeholders, including municipal and regional officials of the NYA, Assembly Members, traditional authorities, leaders of youth groups, development partners, and members of the media.

Speaking at the event, the Municipal Youth Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr Bernard Annor, stated that the establishment of the District Youth Committee aims to officially position youth at the centre of development planning and implementation in the Ga West Municipality. He emphasized that the committee would serve as a platform to drive youth empowerment, leadership development, innovation, and collaboration to address challenges and unlock the full potential of young people in the municipality.

“We are committed to fostering leadership, innovation, and collaboration to address challenges and unlock youth potentials for Ga West and the nation. We look forward to working together as a team to make this vision a reality,” Mr Annor noted.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga West, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, in an address read on his behalf by Mr Julius Azuma, Deputy Director of the Ga West Municipal Assembly, described the inauguration as a significant step toward institutionalising youth participation in local governance. He noted that the youth constitute the largest and most energetic segment of the population and remain a critical asset for driving socio-economic transformation.

According to the MCE, the decision to establish the committee is a deliberate and strategic move to ensure that youth voices are coordinated, heard, and effectively integrated into municipal development processes. He highlighted several youth-focused interventions being implemented by the Assembly in partnership with the National Youth Authority.

Under the National Apprenticeship Programme, the municipality has received over 1,000 applications from prospective master trainers and apprentices, reflecting the high level of trust and confidence young people have in the initiative. Additionally, 840 youth have successfully undergone training in Sustainable Business Management and Entrepreneurship under the Youth in Agribusiness Initiative, repositioning agriculture as a viable and profitable business venture.

The MCE further noted ongoing efforts to intensify skills training, promote self-reliance, reduce unemployment, and register youth groups and associations to build a reliable youth database for effective planning and targeted interventions.

Addressing members of the newly inaugurated committee, Hon. Sowah Nai urged them to serve with integrity, inclusiveness, and dedication, stressing that they are expected to act as a bridge between the youth and the Assembly, promote unity among youth groups, advocate for youth-focused policies, and support the implementation of government programmes.

The Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Maithias Blay, also delivered remarks on behalf of the NYA Chief Executive Officer. He described the establishment of the youth committees under the National Youth Authority Act, 2016 (Act 939) as a strategic pilot initiative, beginning in the Greater Accra Region, to strengthen youth governance nationwide.

Mr Blay highlighted key challenges confronting the youth, including unemployment, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy, and called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners to address these issues.

He commended the Government of Ghana for flagship youth initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship Programme, Adwumawura Initiative, One Million Coders Programme, and the Red Means Stop Campaign, noting that these interventions demonstrate strong political commitment to youth development.

The Regional Director officially inaugurated the committee and charged its members to serve with passion, accountability, and integrity, while calling on the Regional Coordinating Council and other stakeholders to provide the necessary support to ensure its success.

The District Youth Committee, established under Section 21 of Act 939, will serve as the principal advisory, coordination, and oversight body for youth development in the district. Its mandate includes coordinating youth programmes, advising the NYA on emerging youth issues, facilitating inter-agency collaboration, monitoring youth policies, promoting youth participation in governance, strengthening district youth structures, and supporting peacebuilding and youth protection systems.

The event concluded with a call for collective partnership to build a municipality where the youth are empowered, productive, and hopeful for the future.                                          

Source: Dorcas Asantewaa Osei, ISD-GWMA