The Youth Champions of Northern Region have made a clarion call to the government to allocate the requisite funds in the 2023 budget statement and economic policy for the implementation of the National Youth Policy launched in August 2022 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The National Youth Authority developed the new national youth policy to serve as a comprehensive guide and framework with its 5-year implementation plan to improve youth development in the country.
On this backdrop, the Youth Policy Champions at a news conference in Tamale on Thursday (November 17, 2022) ahead of the presentation of the 2023 budget slated this month, has requested the inclusion of the implementation of the national youth policy and the adequate financial allocation in the budget statement.
Madam Radia Issahaku who addressed the conference said, “As we are excited about the new policy priority areas, we are also primarily concerned with how the policy recommendations to be implemented will be funded. How much funds has been dedicated to fund the policy and how do youth and CSOs assess the progress of the policy implementation?
“The ministry of finance must clearly state the allocation of funds for the implementation of the national youth policy in the 2023 budget reading.”
She argued that the objectives of the Youth Policy can only be possible by the provision and consistent flow of funds towards the implementation of interventions linked to the thematic areas of the policy.
The youth policy champions also want the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Youth Authority to show commitment towards the implementation of the policy document.
Accordingly, the group has demanded the ministry to include the implementation and awareness creation in its 2023 activities and also roll out a transparency and accountability plan before, during and after the implementation, an action they believe will enable the youth and stakeholders to track the progress of work.
In addition, Madam Radia said information dissemination on the policy implementation must be incorporated in the 2023 work-plan of both National and Regional Secretariats of the National Youth Authority.
Meanwhile, the Youth Policy Champions argues the existing peace and security of the nation stands threatened if the youth is not empowered and given job opportunities.
Mr. Abdul Rahaman Abdul Latif said the youth constitute more than half of the Ghana’s population and that in his view calls for more interest in youth development.
“…And security experts and analysts would say that the current economic crisis is a way by which peace and security can be destructed and young people are mostly the pillars in terms of these destructions; and if more attention is given to young people especially in the allocation of funds for their development, provide job opportunities and make them comfortable, issues of national security threats will be a thing of the past” he asserted.
