‘Youth Work Is Not Just a Passion—It’s a Profession,’ Declares AYWP Co-Chair Theodora Anti Williams

In a rousing call to action, Theodora Anti Williams, Co-Chair of the Association of Youth Work Practitioners (AYWP), has called for a fundamental shift in how Ghana perceives and supports youth development work.

Speaking at a high-level national dialogue held in Accra on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Anti Williams emphasized that youth work must no longer be viewed as informal or voluntary—but recognized as a critical profession essential to national development.

“Youth work is not just a passion—it’s a profession,” she affirmed, setting the tone for a gathering that brought together youth practitioners, government officials, civil society leaders, and global partners.

Organized by the AYWP in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, the National Youth Authority (NYA), the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers’ Associations (CAYWA), and the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the event was themed “Growing the Profession of Youth Work in Ghana.” The dialogue marked a decisive step in formalizing youth work as a structured, standards-based profession.

Drawing from years of frontline experience, Anti Williams delivered a compelling message on the need to build institutional systems, ethical frameworks, and accreditation mechanisms for youth work.

“We must stop seeing youth work as just mentoring or organizing camps. It’s about structure, training, accountability, and measurable impact,” she stated.

The call for change was strongly backed by the government. In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo, the Deputy CEO of the NYA reaffirmed the government’s commitment to establishing a formal framework that recognizes youth workers as essential nation-builders.

“Our youth workers are not volunteers filling in gaps. They are key actors in nation-building,” he said. “They deserve recognition, resources, and representation at the highest levels of decision-making.”

That sentiment was echoed by Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Convener of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs (Youth) and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana. He emphasized that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved in Ghana without a well-resourced and empowered youth work sector.

“Recognition, resourcing, and partnerships—these are the three pillars we need to stand on if we’re serious about youth development,” Dr. Wemakor said. “This dialogue must not end here. It must spark action.”

The conversation resonated far beyond Ghana’s borders. From the Caribbean and African diaspora, Tanya Merrick Powell, Co-Chair of CAYWA and Technical Director of the Jamaica Professional Youth Workers Association, praised the resilience of Ghanaian youth workers and encouraged them to build a practice rooted in their own heritage and context.

“Youth development work is more than a policy. It is a science, an approach, and a process,” she stated. “You are not just working with young people—you are building nations.”

Powell stressed the importance of institutional memory and continuity, urging the AYWP to become a permanent knowledge base for the sector.

“Governments change. Ministers change. But the association must endure and carry the story of youth development forward,” she said.

Adding a global perspective, Layne Robinson, Head of Social Policy Development at the Commonwealth Secretariat, reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s 50-year commitment to professionalizing youth work.

He spoke of ongoing efforts to build regional networks, ethical standards, and accredited training programs across member states.

“We have to ask ourselves—if youth work disappeared today, what would be left behind?” Robinson posed. “The truth is, our communities would be weaker. Our democracies would be less vibrant. And our young people would have fewer champions.”

Robinson also invited Ghanaian stakeholders to actively participate in the upcoming 5th Global Commonwealth Youth Work Conference in Malaysia this November, where critical issues such as artificial intelligence, mental health, and legal safeguarding in youth work will be addressed.

As the day concluded, one message was clear: youth work in Ghana has reached a turning point. The relaunch of the AYWP was not merely ceremonial—it signalled a long-overdue movement toward professional dignity, structured systems, and long-term impact.

“This is more than a relaunch—it’s a revolution,” said Anti Williams. “We are building a profession that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and helps Ghana thrive.”

With more than 50% of Ghana’s population under 35, the need to invest in youth work has never been more urgent—or more strategic.

What began as a dialogue now carries the momentum of a national movement—one that may redefine the future of youth development in Ghana and serve as a model across the continent.