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The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called on the youth to rise to the occasion and drive national development.
“The time has come for us to take ownership of our destiny and shape the future we want.
“We must demand accountability from our leaders and be accountable ourselves.
We must work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and future generations,” he stated.
Speaking last Wednesday at the launch of Young Common Forum (YCF) at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) in Accra, Mr Afenyo-Markin highlighted the significance of mentorship, collaboration and selflessness in achieving success, encouraging young leaders to support one another and work towards collective success.
Held on the theme: “Empowering the Young Generation for Leadership and Development”, the event sought to inspire young people to recognise their potential, make a positive impact, challenge the status quo, innovate and self-believe.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, emphasised the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship and education in driving national development, citing examples of successful initiatives such as the Free Senior High School (SHS) education policy and the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
“Ghana’s future is indeed in the hands of its young population, with over 57 per cent of Ghanaians under the age of 25.“This demography presents both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, young people’s energy, innovation and determination can drive national transformation. On the other hand, Ghana needs to address pressing issues like unemployment, education and mentorship to harness this potential,” he said.
The Effutu Legislator emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing the challenges facing Ghana, particularly the issue of illegal mining (galamsey) and its devastating impact on the environment and communities.
“Let us fight this together; otherwise, there will be no Ghana for us. Let us resolve that we will rise to the occasion.
Let us lift and touch high and carry it forward together. In doing so, we honour those who came before us and fulfil our duty to those who will come after us,” he urged.
On his part, the President of YCF, Nyantakyi Osborn, stated that the forum was not just about titles or positions, but about shared commitments to listen, collaborate and work tirelessly to shape a future that reflected their highest goals.
