By Stephen Asante, GNA
Kumasi, Dec. 6, GNA - Mr Perry Okudzeto, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, has called on stakeholders to take a keen interest in the on-going review processes of the National Youth Policy.
“We want to build a vibrant youth base for an accelerated socio-economic development,” he said adding that the review has become necessary to empower the youth for a more productive life.
The policy document created in 2010, gives an overview of the nation’s overall youth development agenda, covering education and skills training, science, research and technology, information and communication technology (ICT), sports and recreation.
Others include entrepreneurial development, arts and culture, gender mainstreaming, health, youth in conflict prevention and peace building, as well as governance, democracy and leadership.
Mr Okudzeto, who was addressing the opening session of a stakeholders’ consultative forum on the review of the National Youth Policy at Aprade-Junction in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, said the youth were critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In line with this, the government has invested in many policy initiatives, including the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan, which has a seed fund of US$10 million, and designed to harness potentials in the youth.
Since assuming office, the Deputy Minister said substantial number of the youth had been provided avenues for job and wealth creation in the area of agriculture, health, youth empowerment and health.
The consultative forum, held under the auspices of the National Youth Authority (NYA), brought on board various stakeholders from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), technocrats, civil society organizations and traditional authorities.
It was structured to solicit the views of the participants towards development of a holistic youth policy document that was abreast with current global trends and emerging issues.
Mr Okudzeto said government would not relent in its commitment to helping the youth to advance their ambition in life for a better society.
He cited the construction of centres of excellence across the country, saying the government had increased efforts to complete those projects as scheduled in order to churn out talented sportsmen.
The Reverend Frank Lartey, Member of the Technical Committee in-charge of the Review of the National Youth Policy, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the side-line of the event, said a similar forum has already been held for some regions.
They include Northern, Upper-East and Upper-West Regions.
Nana Ampofo Kyei Baffour, chief of Asem in Kumasi, said the nation’s leaders ought to be responsive to youth development issues since they constituted the majority of the nation’s population.
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