Dr. Joseph Wemakor urges unified youth action as GYF validates National Strategic Action Plan

Founder & Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor has called for a united, strategic approach to youth development as he addressed national youth leaders at the National Youth Leaders Forum held at the British Council in Accra on 4th December 2025.

Speaking during the validation of the Ghana Youth Federation’s (GYF) National Strategic Action Plan (NSAP), Dr. Wemakor emphasized that youth empowerment is a right, not a privilege, and that the NSAP must actively guide policy, amplify youth voices, and drive tangible national change.

He commended the GYF for its leadership in strengthening the voice, visibility, and influence of young people across Ghana, describing the forum as more than a meeting—a moment of alignment, reflection, and shared responsibility.

“We are gathered to shape a plan that speaks to the aspirations, struggles, and limitless potential of Ghana’s youth. A plan that must not sit on shelves but actively guide how youth voices inform policy, how young leaders influence national development, and how institutions respond to the real needs of young people,” Dr. Wemakor emphasized.

Highlighting the importance of structured, non-partisan, youth-led governance anchored in the National Youth Authority Act (Act 939), Dr. Wemakor who is also the Convener of the Ghana Civil Society Platform on SDGs (Youth-Sub-platform) urged youth leaders to ensure the NSAP addresses the urgency of youth employment and entrepreneurship, safeguards human rights, strengthens leadership capacity that is ethical and inclusive, and positions young people as active partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

He further called for robust partnerships to open global opportunities for all Ghanaian youth, regardless of background.

“Let today be a reminder that the future we envision depends on the choices we make, the courage we demonstrate, and the unity we build.

The NSAP will only be as strong as our collective will to implement it,” Dr. Wemakor declared, pledging full support from HRRG and the Youth Sub-Platform to ensure that the validated plan becomes a living document driving change and amplifying youth voices nationwide.

In his presentation on the NSAP draft, Mr. Ali Ibraheem, National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Federation observed that it resulted from a strategic retreat held shortly after the federation’s activation in September.

Emphasizing inclusivity, he stated, “Nothing for the youth without the youth,” revealing that the plan had already been shared with youth leaders via a dedicated WhatsApp platform for feedback.

Mr. Ibraheem outlined key realities shaping the NSAP: 73% of Ghana’s population is under 35, yet only 4% of youth groups are formally registered, youth unemployment is rising sharply, and 60% of young people lack digital literacy.

Anchored in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and national youth policies, the plan focuses on four objectives—representation, empowerment, policy advocacy, and civic participation—supported by strategic pillars: institutionalization, district mobilization, youth diplomacy, and flagship programs. Among the programs is the Ghana Youth Index Report, designed to document and showcase youth activities nationwide.

He also announced a roadmap to activate youth structures in all 267 districts by the end of 2026, calling on leaders to form local structures and participate in Technical Working Groups to refine and operationalize the NSAP.

Governance and transition processes, he explained, would be transparent, with age requirements strictly enforced to maintain youth-centered leadership. The District Regional Governance (DRGs) Charter will guide elections and transitions free from political interference.

Mr. Ibraheem also shared the funding model, targeting GHS 5.83 million from government, private sector, and international partners, including ongoing alignment with UNFPA initiatives.

The President of the Ghana Youth Federation, Sherif Ghali, in his passionate speech on unity, warned that disunity among youth organizations is the greatest threat to collective influence.

“We have a very developed youth ecosystem, but it is weak. Our problem is unity,” he stressed, announcing upcoming engagements with national authorities to present a unified youth agenda.

Mr. Osman Abdulai Ayariga Esq., Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), commended the federation for strengthening youth coordination.

He emphasized that independence under Act 939 allows GYF to advocate for youth interests without partisan influence. “Coming together under one umbrella does not reduce your individual power—it multiplies it,” he noted.

Mr. Casper Sunday Capoli, representing the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of Ghanaian youth, noting that seven out of ten young people aspire to start businesses but face challenges in funding, training, and support.

He announced NEIP’s training initiatives for 10,000 young people and urged against forming parallel youth groups driven by personal interests, advocating for a unified national approach.

Dr. Elom Hillary Otchi, Technical Director at the Africa Institute of Healthcare Quality Safety and Accreditation in his keynote address, challenged youth leaders to shift from policy drafting to policy implementation.

He stressed digital literacy, accountability, and forward-looking skills as critical for preparing young people for a rapidly evolving national and global environment.

The National Youth Leaders Forum ultimately highlighted Dr. Wemakor’s call for unity and strategic action, combined with GYF’s comprehensive roadmap to institutionalize, mobilize, and strengthen youth leadership nationwide, setting the stage for a coordinated, empowered, and impactful youth sector in Ghana.