The National Youth Authority (NYA), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), organized a Youth-Led Town Hall Meeting at the Methodist Church in the Ga West Municipality on Friday, June 26, 2026, under the theme, "Strengthening Youth Participation in Local Governance and Development."

The event brought together the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the Presiding Member, Assembly Members, Heads of Departments, development partners, and young people from various communities across the municipality to discuss issues affecting youth development and explore ways of enhancing their participation in local governance.

Delivering the welcome address, the Municipal Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Bernard Annor, emphasized that the youth should be recognized as active partners in community development rather than being regarded solely as future leaders. He noted that the NYA remains committed to fostering stronger collaboration between the youth, government institutions, and other stakeholders while creating opportunities for the youth to contribute meaningfully to policy discussions and decision-making processes that affect their lives.

In his opening remarks, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Maithias Blay, reiterated the importance of empowering the youth and positioning them as key stakeholders in local governance and community development. He explained that the town hall meeting was intended to strengthen partnerships among the youth, government institutions, and development partners, while providing a platform for constructive dialogue on policies and programmes that impact the youth.

Speaking on behalf of the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Julius Azumah underscored the importance of community engagement, social cohesion, youth empowerment, and responsible leadership in promoting sustainable development. He also highlighted the need for improved infrastructure, enhanced educational support, effective disaster preparedness, and climate change interventions to improve the well-being of residents within the municipality.

Participants were taken through detailed presentations on the municipality's planning and budgeting processes. A representative from the Municipal Planning Office, Madam Mary Kafui Djokoto, explained the legal and institutional frameworks that guide development planning, including the Local Governance Act, the National Development Planning System, and the Public Financial Management Act. She emphasized that community consultations, stakeholder participation, monitoring, and evaluation are essential to ensuring the successful implementation of development projects.

A representative from the Municipal Budget Office, Mr. George Nyaaba Agana, also delivered a presentation on the role of the municipal budget in implementing the Annual Action Plan. He explained the strong relationship between planning, budgeting, and expenditure, stressing that active community participation is critical for effective resource allocation and sustainable municipal development.

During the interactive session, participants expressed concerns over inadequate funding for youth development initiatives, limited access to skills training opportunities, and delays in the execution of some community development projects. They also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, increased investment in youth empowerment programmes, and expanded opportunities to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and employment creation.

Addressing the gathering, the Presiding Member, Hon. Emmanuel Amuzu, encouraged the youth to remain confident, develop their talents, and persevere in pursuing their goals despite the challenges they may encounter.

In his remarks, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. John Desmond Sowah Nai, reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to promoting inclusive governance and youth empowerment. He assured participants that the Assembly would continue to create platforms that enable the youth to actively participate in decision-making processes and contribute meaningfully to the development agenda of the Ga West Municipality.

The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from the National Youth Authority, the Assembly, development partners, and the youth to strengthen collaboration, deepen youth participation in local governance, and create sustainable opportunities that will empower the youth to contribute significantly to the development of the Ga West Municipality and Ghana as a whole.

Source: Naomi Akua Amoadzah, ISD-GWMA