‘Engage youth in national development’
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Kwesi Quartey, has urged the state to accord due recognition to the youth and engage them in national development.
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He said if the youth were properly trained, prepared and motivated, they could become real engine of progress.
In an address read on his behalf at the celebration of the 69th United Nations Day in Accra yesterday, Mr Quartey said the country’s policy framework acknowledged the youth as an important human resource with the potential to contribute significantly to national development.
“It is, therefore, a precondition that they must be accorded due recognition and engaged in the development of the nation,” he stressed.
The day, which was held on the theme: “Youth engagement for nation building”, is set aside for UN member states to recognise the aims and achievements of the UN and reflect on ways to advance its vision.
Youth challenges
Mr Quartey expressed worry over frequent youth agitations, unemployment and violence, particularly those against girls and young women which, he said, had dominated the headlines in recent times.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to provide the youth with the appropriate facilities and structures to get them abreast of modern knowledge.
“However, it is even more important that the youth themselves take up the challenge of preparing towards assuming leadership roles to create opportunities for themselves,” he added.
Fund to assist youth
In a bid to empower the youth, the deputy minister said the government had set up the Youth Enterprise Support (YES) Initiative with a GH¢10 million fund to assist the youth to go into various income generation business ventures.
“The fund is to assist the youth with creative and innovative business ideas and plans to achieve their full potential,” he added.
Ghana’s peacekeeping efforts lauded
In a speech read on his behalf, the UN Resident Co-ordinator, Madam Susan Namondo Ngongi, commended Ghana for contributing significantly to UN peacekeeping missions.
“Currently, Ghana is contributing almost 3,000 troops, experts and personnel to UN peacekeeping missions in Western Sahara, Mali, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Darfur, South –Sudan and Cote d’Ivoire, which ranks Ghana among the top 10 contributing member states,” she said.