‘Youth Leadership Is Essential’-Dr. Wemakor Challenges Ghana at UN@80 Civil Society Conference

Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), has fired a bold call for youth-centered development, declaring: “Youth leadership is not optional; it is a development imperative.”

He emphasized that no nation can achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without empowering its youth, who constitute the largest demographic in Ghana and across much of Africa.

Dr. Wemakor made the statement while addressing diplomats, civil society leaders, women’s rights advocates, academics, and youth groups at the National Civil Society Conference held at the UPSA Auditorium in Accra on Wednesday December 10, 2025, to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN@80) and the 2025 International Human Rights Day.

Speaking also as the Convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on the SDGs, he highlighted several challenges facing Ghanaian youth, including limited participation in policymaking, rising unemployment, digital misinformation, and vulnerability to drug abuse, violence, and radicalization.

He showcased the transformative work of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, citing initiatives such as the Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on Kidnapping Teenage Pregnancy and Tramadol/Drug Abuse (‘KTT Project’), which has educated over 60,000 Ghanaians on kidnapping, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse.

“Youth are not just beneficiaries of policy; they are key agents of change. When young people are empowered, societies thrive,” he stressed.

Dr. Wemakor called on government, civil society, and the UN system to adopt a bold, youth-centered agenda: institutionalize youth participation, protect civic freedoms, invest in innovation and digital literacy, strengthen partnerships, and prioritize marginalized youth.

“Token inclusion is not enough; we need real power-sharing and real opportunities for the next generation,” he concluded.

The conference, organized by the Coalition of NGOs Associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) Ghana, brought together stakeholders to reaffirm the critical role of civil society in safeguarding human rights and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

Special Guest of Honour, Rev. Canon Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, Chief Patron of the International Youth Network for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (IYNUNSCR), emphasized the universality of human dignity.

He urged Ghanaians to reject discrimination, defend fundamental freedoms, and sustain interfaith harmony as a foundation for peaceful coexistence and national unity.

On gender justice, Dr. Angela Dwamena Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, warned that persistent inequalities continue to undermine Ghana’s human rights progress.

She urged policymakers to strengthen law enforcement, increase women’s leadership, protect vulnerable groups, and support families as a foundation for human rights.

Dr. Dwamena highlighted that investing in women is an investment in society, noting that women bear the brunt of unpaid labour while contributing disproportionately to national development.

Mrs. Theophiline Bannerman, Convener of the Coalition of NGOs Associated with the UN DGC, described civil society as “the lifeblood of global cooperation.”
“Civil society is where the voices of the marginalized find resonance.

Our advocacy ensures that policies reflect the realities of ordinary people, not just the rhetoric of officials,” she said, calling for stronger collaboration among NGOs, government agencies, and the UN system, particularly on issues affecting women, children, and youth.

Adding a continental perspective, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Executive Director of EIB Network, stressed the need for stronger investment in women’s participation across all sectors.

“For Africa to thrive, we must create spaces where women lead, innovate, and make decisions that shape our economies, communities, and governance.

Gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it is a national imperative,” she said. She also announced the Women in Sustainability Africa Summit, scheduled for May 21, 2026, which aims to amplify women’s voices in policy, entrepreneurship, and climate action.

The conference concluded with a unified call for strengthened collaboration among civil society, government, and global partners to advance human dignity, gender justice, youth empowerment, and sustainable development, as the United Nations enters a new decade of global action.