Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) Osman Abdulai Ayariga
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has urged stakeholders to collaborate actively to tackle pressing challenges facing Ghanaian youth, including unemployment, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy.
Delivering his welcome address at an orientation workshop to pilot the formation of Regional and District Youth Committees in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions on June 27, 2025, he emphasized that collective action is essential to ensuring the success of government interventions aimed at empowering young people.
The CEO highlighted the importance of addressing substance abuse head-on, warning that failing to act decisively would result in costly rehabilitation efforts and long-term societal consequences.
He called on stakeholders to work proactively to prevent substance abuse and support affected youth, stressing that collaboration is key to creating a safer environment for Ghana’s future leaders.
Ayariga explained that the Regional and District Youth Committees, established under the National Youth Authority Act 939, play a crucial role in implementing the Authority’s policies at the local level in line with the objectives of the Ghana National Youth Policy.
These committees, he noted, are essential to ensuring that youth development initiatives are tailored to the specific needs of regional and district contexts and that such initiatives effectively reach their intended beneficiaries.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Homeownership Fund, Prosper Hoetu, who made a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the Youth Committees, commended the leadership of the NYA for taking this bold step—one that young people have awaited for the past eight years.
He explained that although the NYA Act provided a decentralized structure to empower youth participation in governance and decision-making, the systems had not been activated until now.
He stressed that involving young people directly in stakeholder discussions would ensure their concerns are incorporated into policies, making them more responsive to youth needs.
He further highlighted the committees as platforms for young people to develop leadership, organizational, and public speaking skills. He also emphasized the potential for better collaboration among agencies at the regional and district levels—including education, health, and employment sectors—to improve coordination and outcomes, all within the framework of the national youth policy.
Meanwhile, district and regional directors participating in the workshop commended the NYA for organizing such an enlightening session.
They noted that the workshop provided valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities of the Regional and District Youth Committees and how to effectively engage young people in decision-making processes within their respective areas.
Ishmael Kwesi Selassie, Programme Analyst for Adolescent and Youth at UNFPA, reiterated their commitment to promoting youth participation in decision-making by creating enabling platforms.
He reaffirmed UNFPA’s support to the NYA, stating, “We continue to support the youth sector to ensure young people are developed. We will continue to empower youth-led organizations and CSOs to champion the agenda of meaningful youth participation.”
He added that their focus remains firmly on this agenda and expressed hope that the committees would be formally inaugurated during National Youth Month in August.
The workshop, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together stakeholders from various regions and districts to equip them with knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of the newly mandated committees under the National Youth Authority Act 939.
These committees are crucial for enhancing youth participation in decision-making processes at all levels, ensuring that policies and interventions directly address the needs of Ghana’s vibrant youth population.
AM/KA
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