Youth Groups advocate participation in decision-making

The National Network of Youth Groups (NYYG), a coalition of youth advocacy groups, has called on the government to involve the youth in decision-making processes, especially on issues concerning education.

Ms. Augustina Quaynor, President of NYYG, said the youth who formed the chunk of the Ghanaian population, were also the direct beneficiaries of education and there was the need to involve them to seek their views in the formulation of policies and other reforms regarding education in the country.

She made the call at the opening of the annual general meeting of NYYG in Kumasi.

The meeting which was held on the theme “A stronger network, a stronger youth, a better Ghana”, created a platform for the participants to discuss issues on corruption, unemployment and increasing youth violence in the country.

Ms Quaynor commended the government for its efforts in strengthening education in Ghana and asked that new educational policies such as the free Senior High School (SHS), Double Tracking System and the proposed privatisation of public basic schools, needed the input of the youth before their implementation.

She stressed the need for the government to put more resources in technical, vocational education and training (TVET) to help provide employable skills to the youth and thus reduce unemployment in the country.

The Coalition’s President called for swift actions from appropriate institutions to dissolve vigilante groups which were threatening the peace and security of the people.

Mr Samuel Gariba, Ashanti Regional Programmes Officer at the National Youth Authority (NYA), advised the youth to embrace vocational skills to become self-employed and provide employment avenues for others.

He said there were numerous initiatives aimed at providing employable skills and to equip the youth to stay out of poverty.

Mr Gariba, mentioned street lightening fixing training, youth farms and youth in burnt bricks moulding, as some of the projects currently going on in the Ashanti Region.

He said NYA would provide start-up capital to the youth who wanted to venture into entrepreneurship after their training.