Ghana Youth Federation President Presents Bold Youth Policy Recommendations at Africa Youth Day Ministerial Dialogue
Accra, Ghana – November 1, 2025
The Acting President of the Ghana Youth Federation, Mr. Sherif Ghali, has called for stronger accountability, coordination, and inclusion in youth development policy during the Africa Youth Day Ministerial Dialogue held at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Presenting the findings of nationwide Regional Youth Listening Sessions, Mr. Ghali said the sessions, organized by the Federation in collaboration with the National Youth Authority, gave young people across all sixteen regions the platform to speak about their realities and propose practical solutions to policymakers.
“The youth of Ghana do not seek charity, they seek partnership,” Mr. Ghali told ministers, diplomats, and development partners. “They are not asking for handouts but for systems that work.”
The report summarized key recommendations directed to major ministries, including Employment, Lands and Natural Resources, Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, and Education. Youth participants proposed the establishment of Regional Employment and Innovation Coordination Desks, formalized apprenticeship and graduate placement schemes, and a national digital job-matching platform under the NYA.
On natural resources, youth across Ghana demanded stricter enforcement against illegal mining, greater transparency in royalties, and training in sustainable resource management. They also urged the government to make the green economy a source of jobs, not exploitation.
In agriculture, young farmers called for mechanization centers, agribusiness funds, youth access to irrigation, and better transport and market infrastructure to make farming profitable.
For trade and industry, the recommendations focused on a National Youth Enterprise Fund, export-readiness support, simplified business registration, and youth participation in AfCFTA opportunities. Education-sector proposals emphasized upgrading infrastructure, expanding TVET, integrating entrepreneurship into curricula, and ensuring inclusivity for persons with disabilities.
Mr. Ghali stressed that the findings represent “the distilled voices of Ghana’s young citizens” and that the Federation stands ready to partner government in implementing them. He announced that the Ghana Youth Federation will launch a Youth Accountability Dashboard to track progress on youth development commitments.
Representatives from the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the National Youth Authority, and development partners commended the Federation’s evidence-based approach and pledged to incorporate the findings into the new National Youth Development Strategy.
Mr. Ghali concluded by urging leaders to move from consultation to action. “Let this Africa Youth Day be remembered as the moment Ghana turned listening into delivery. When we invest in our youth, we invest in Ghana’s continuity and prosperity.”
