Nana Ahenfua Dankwa advocates youth empowerment in quest for sustainable dev’t

By Juliet ETEFE

Head Girl of SOS Hermann Gmeiner International College, Nana Ahenfua Dankwa, has urged leaders to prioritise youth empowerment in the country’s quest for sustainable development.

She spoke at the Ghana Economic Forum held in Accra, where she expressed concern over the persistently high youth unemployment rate in the country – urging that policies be tailored to create job opportunities to foster as well as encourage conducive environments for innovation.

Ms. Dankwa further emphasised the need for investment in technical and vocational education to equip young people with market-relevant skills.

She also advocated for public-private partnerships that could drive job creation, especially with incentives for businesses that hire youth.

Beyond job creation she called for broader youth empowerment through mentorship and leadership programmes, which she believes will promote continuous learning and development.

“We, the youth, are not just the future; we are the leaders of today,” she asserted, advocating for the inclusion of young voices in national decision-making processes.

“Firstly, by investing in technical and vocational education and training, young people can be equipped with the skills needed for the job market.

“Additionally, public-private partnerships can drive job opportunities with incentives for businesses that hire youth. Also, the empowerment of young people beyond job creation, through mentorship programmes as well as leadership programmes, can also foster a culture of continuous learning as well as development.

“We should be actively involved in the nation’s decision-making processes. This can be achieved through youth councils, forums and representation in political institutions. By giving the youth a voice, we harness their energy and creativity for national development,” she stated.

Drawing inspiration from Singapore’s success, Ms. Dankwa suggested that Ghana could adopt similar strategies that focus on skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship – noting that Singapore’s forward-thinking educational agenda has played a crucial role in transforming the landscape.

This year’s Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) 2024 was under the theme ‘Unlocking Opportunities: Re-engineering Ghana’s Economic Model for Sustainable Development’ and marked the 13th edition of the flagship programme organised by B&FT.

The Head Girl holds strongly that “Political leadership must work hand-in-hand with strong institutions to drive sustainable development”. She added that this involves building institutions which can implement policies effectively and ensuring these institutions are free from corruption and inefficiency.

“Re-engineering Ghana’s economic model for sustainable development is not just a policy directive, it is a national imperative,” she emphasised.

Stakeholders and experts at this year’s Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) 2024 emphasised the need for re-engineering the country’s economic model to ensure a robust and resilient economy.

They believe current recovery efforts present a timely opportunity to reshape the economy, making it more sustainable and efficient.

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