YOUTH PROGRAMS IN GHANA

YOUTH PROGRAMS IN GHANA.

Since independence, the state, political parties, religious organizations, communities and schools have attempted to develop youth organizations such as the Young Pioneers, Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Young Christian Students, Boys Scouts, youth wing of various political parties, Ashanti Youth Organization, Wenchi Youth Organization etc to promote the interest and the well being of our youth.

However, these organizations are fragmented and strictly defined to meet narrow objectives. For example, youth wing in churches are designed to instill moral discipline in the youth and to attract families into the church. Youth wings in political parties are aimed at attracting young people into a political cause and to canvass for political support. Community Youth organizations like Wenchi Youth Organization have become interest groups engage in political fights to either destool a chief or get rid of District Chief Executive. National Youth Council remains oblivion to millions of young people in the country because it is not well funded and its activities do not affect overwhelming majority of our youth.

What is required is Youth Development Strategy based on mobilization of resources through a partnership with the private sector to build and strengthen local and national youth infrastructures to resolve the crisis facing our youth. Youth infrastructures such as Youth Centers, Skills Centre’s, and Volunteer Programs in the state institutions, Cultural Exchanges, and Civic Duties etc would assist our young people to learn employment, skills, social skills, and emotional maturity to become healthy and productive adults.

@generationalthinkersgh