The Conference, which would be on theme; “mobilizing Africa’s youth to build a continent beyond aid”, emphasizes the critical need to pull resources of young people to transform the continent and strive towards Africa’ aspirations ‘beyond aid’.

The conference would host 20 African Countries, 30 youth from the Diaspora, seven coaches from Canada and resource persons drawn from Cornell, Dalhousie and McMaster Universities, who would join other Ghanaian resource persons.

Speaking at the Media launch on Wednesday, Mr Seth Oteng, YBF Executive Director, said the conference slated for August 5 to 12, 2018 is a platform for Africans to critically consider how to pull resources of young people to transform the continent and strive towards its aspirations beyond aid.

“Africa has a lot of resources and untapped potentials waiting to emerge. With a youthful population we have no choice than to harness youth potential through education to tap into these talents of youth both in Ghana and the diaspora,” he said.

Madam Nadia Adongo Musah, the Deputy Director in charge of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President said Diasporas youth have extensive knowledge and Ghana needs to mobilize her citizens abroad to share and start innovative projects in the country.

“The office through the Diaspora Internship Programme harnesses the talents of the youth abroad by placing them in local Ghanaian companies where they assist for mutual benefits, supporting host companies,” she said.

Madam Adongo Musah added that such platforms were useful in connecting second and third generation Diasporas to Africa to preserve their link to the continent. Dr Kojo Asante, the Advocacy Director of CDD-Ghana, said the conference remains relevant to Ghana and Africa, which would give hope, progress and an innovative knowledge to participants as well as fulfil their dreams.

Mr Julio De Medeiros, a board member of YBF in his remarks, urged the media to advance the agenda of youth inclusion in building Ghana and African beyond aid. Ms Princess Sekyere, an Alumni of AYGC and President of the 10th AYGC session, sharing her experiences over the years said “AYGC is a leadership forum that gives one the opportunity to engage with peers, mentors and decision makers, both at the national and global level”.

Ms Sekyere added that, her leadership skills and objective policy analysis have greatly improved adding that; her international exposure and the opportunity to make a statement at the 62 Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) at the United Nations was an example”.

Mr Benjamin Larbi, who is also an Alumni said AYGC had prepared him to excel in his endeavours and engaging with corporate leaders in 18 countries of the world. The Foundation has successfully organised the AYGC since 2009 with the main focus of grooming the African youth in four areas; Leadership Grooming, Cascade of Mentorship, Community Impact and Networking and Exchanges.

The YBF, initiator and convenor of the annual leadership grooming programme, is a Non-Governmental youth-focused organization accredited with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Consultative Status. As a youth-focused educational organization, it has the goal of bridging the gaps of the youth for positive youth development.

The AYGC 2018 is the convergence of a four-tier transformational leadership programme for leadership grooming, cascade of mentorship, community impact, and networking for African and Diaspora youth.

The conference, which is targeted at creating the platform for African youth to critically analyse policy documents and discuss issues affecting the development of the continent, has been in existence since 2009.