Mr. Asigri gave the assurance when he delivered his opening remarks at a one-day consultative meeting to elicit inputs from women groups towards the review of the National Youth Policy that was launched in 2010, at the Erata Hotel on Monday, 15th October 2018.

He explained the rationale for the ongoing stakeholder engagements as a result of the urgent need to realign the existing policy with government’s development agenda as well as other relevant international development protocols and frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and the Africa Union Agenda 2063.

 He also mentioned recommendations presented by a technical committee that was put together to evaluate the current policy that identified many gaps and omissions that needed to be addressed. The essence for the meetings, therefore, was to gather inputs aimed at updating the current document to make it all-encompassing, comprehensive and more responsive to present demands and trends in youth development activities.

Mr. Asigri further intimated that as the foremost state agency tasked to coordinate and facilitate youth development in Ghana, the Authority has in the last two years commenced and actually implemented some very key and impactful initiatives and programs such as the Online Digital and Entrepreneurship program, Youth Livelihood Farms, Construction of 10 Youth Resource Centers across the country and a national campaign to end the scourge of drug and substance abuse, notably tramadol amongst young persons.

“For youth development to be effective in any country, there is the fundamental need for a policy to guide the process to realize positive outcomes. This necessitated the development of the existing Youth Policy of Ghana in 2010 under the theme, “Towards an Empowered Youth, Impacting Positively on National Development”. Based on the provisions of this policy, government has engaged the youth and other stakeholders in meaningful partnerships to develop appropriate interventions and services for youth empowerment and development” Mr. Asigri went on to state.

The event was chaired by Nana Esi Ninson VIII, Queenmother of Ekumfi Traditional Area and had Madam Patricia Essel from Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) as the facilitator. Mr. Richard Obeng DCEO (F/A) and Mr. Bright Acheampong (O/P) were also in attendance as well as some directors and support staff from the National Youth Authority.