The initiatives would create space for young people to grow, innovate, and contribute meaning­fully to national development.

It was under the theme “Driving Accountability and Efficiency in Public Service Delivery through Youth Empowerment in M&E.”

The event brought together key national figures who stressed the importance of mentoring the youth and involving them active­ly in monitoring and evaluation (M&E) to improve public service delivery and national development.
    

Speaking at the launch, the Pres­idential Advisor on the Economy, Mr Seth Terkper, highlighted how technology could transform public financial management.

He emphasised the need for digital tools that provide real-time data, support strategic spending, and promote transparency through automated dashboards and reports.

He also encouraged the use of data analytics and artificial intelligence to track budgets and performance, while stressing the importance of cybersecurity, skilled personnel, and strong digi­tal infrastructure.

Mr Terkper noted that building a modern public service system required training government workers in digital tools, and em­powering youth with such skills would not only modernise the civil service but also open up job opportunities for them.

The Director of ISSER at the University of Ghana and Board Chairman of DIH, Prof. Peter Quartey, said mentorship was critical in building young people’s confidence and competence.

He stressed that young people must be given practical exposure and guided through real-world challenges to help them discover and refine their talents.

He called for programmes that support youth in areas such as sci­ence and technology, environmen­tal awareness, health, innovation, and governance.

Head of the Civil Service, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, also emphasized that monitoring and evaluation should not be treated as an afterthought.

According to him, policies must be designed with monitor­ing in mind from the start so that progress could be tracked and necessary adjustments made along the way.

He said civil service reforms now include mentorship and coaching systems to build a pipe­line of skilled professionals.

Dr Aggrey-Darkoh added that monitoring and evaluation professionals must be embedded in all stages of policy planning and implementation to ensure proper use of resources and to support transparency and accountability.

The Head of the Civil Service also pointed out that without effective monitoring, policies might waste public funds or fail to benefit the population.

He stressed that the state must always be awake and intentional in how it uses its limited resources, and M&E plays a critical role in ensuring efficiency.

The team lead, DIH, Mr Kwabena Agyei Boakye, said the youth had immense potential and, if given the right opportunities, could create their own jobs or boost their employability.

According to him, selection into the DIH programme will be based on a competitive process, “Appli­cants will be screened based on their background, availability, and commitment to ensure a diverse and skilled group of participants”.

He said DIH aims to reach more institutions and communities, believing that development at the grassroots level is key to national progress.

He stressed the need to address these issues by building supportive systems that treat youth not just as future leaders but as present-day contributors to development.

“For Ghana to grow effec­tively, it must invest in its young people, equip them with practical skills, and integrate them fully into national development efforts through structured mentorship and strong monitoring and evalua­tion systems,” he said.