Accra: A nationwide survey conducted by the Youth Placement for Employability Solutions (Y-PES Ghana) has revealed that over 91 per cent of young people in Ghana are unaware of the existence of the National Youth Policy, almost five years after its launch.
According to Ghana News Agency, the survey, which took nearly one year to complete, also showed that only 8.8 per cent of the participants claimed awareness of the policy document. The survey sampled about 2,000 young individuals from all 16 regions of Ghana, comprising 54 per cent males and 46 per cent females. Mr Mumuni Sulemanna, the Executive Director of Y-PES Ghana, shared these insights during a leadership training programme for Senior High School (SHS) and Basic School prefects.
The programme, organised by Y-PES Ghana, brought together prefects from various schools, including Wa SHS, Wa Secondary Technical and Jamiat Islamic Girls SHSs, St Francis Xavier Minor Seminary, and Senior Victory College, with the aim of developing their leadership qualities to become ambassadors of the policy. Mr Sulemanna explained that the survey, which aimed to assess youth awareness of the policy, utilised a Google questionnaire to enable participation from diverse backgrounds. He expressed concern over the low interest among the youth in understanding policies and programmes intended to shape their future and improve their welfare.
Mr Sulemanna emphasized, "The teeming youth of Ghana are completely ignorant of their rights, not privileges, because what the youth policy really brings to them is a right, and they are supposed to hold duty bearers accountable for implementing the policy." He called on the National Youth Authority (NYA) and the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify education and sensitisation campaigns on the policy to ensure more youth become informed and actively involved in national development.
Furthermore, Mr Sulemanna appealed to the government to release the five per cent allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund earmarked for the NYA to support youth-focused initiatives. He criticised the use of NYA funds for constructing Youth Resource Centres, stating it was a misplaced priority, as such construction should be the responsibility of the National Sports Authority. He argued that these centres, primarily equipped for sports, do not fully support the development of the youth's potential, leaving many vulnerable to the elements.
The youth development advocate urged the NYA to focus on policies and programmes that enhance the skills, leadership capabilities, entrepreneurship abilities, and overall potential of the youth. Participants at the engagement expressed their gratitude to Y-PES Ghana for exposing them to the policy and enhancing their leadership skills. However, they also voiced concerns about the widespread ignorance among the youth regarding the policy designed to address their development needs.
Madi Latifatu, the Girls' Prefect of Wa SHS, stressed the importance of youth knowing what the government has planned for their development and holding the government accountable. Meanwhile, Shadrach Mwintir Dery Uunezume, the School Prefect of St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary, suggested that copies of the policy should be distributed to SHS students to improve their knowledge and understanding of the document.