The policy, which was launched in 2010 under the theme “Towards an Empowered Youth, impacting positively on development”, had had youth in sports development modules, as part of its 19 priority areas, ranging from leadership through good governance to democracy, all of which remained very vital to the youth development agenda.

Ms. Francisca Oteng, Board Chairperson of NYA, in addressing participants at the Upper West Regional session in Wa on Monday, said she was delighted to be a part of such an important process at reviewing the youth policy document to bring it up to speed with current trends in youth development work.

She commended the present leadership of the Authority led by Mr. Emmanuel Asigri for their unfettered dedication to the development of the Ghanaian youth, particularly for their strong resolve to involve the key custodians of the Authority’s interventions, the youth to ensure a sense of ownership.

According to her, she recalled His Excellency President Akufo-Addo’s pledge to always get close to the people to assess the realities confronting them, which informed their presence at the forum.

In a speech read on behalf of Mr. Mr. Sulemana Alhassan, the Upper West Regional Minister by Alhaji Abdulai Abubakar, Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, said the youth play a very critical role in the socio-economic development of any nation, hence matters affecting them must be taken very seriously.

He used the occasion to urge stakeholders to remain committed to supporting the implementation of all issues during the consultations, adding that, he expected benefits would be enormous.

He therefore pledged government’s commitment towards the positive development of the youth hence the importance for government’s policies and programs to be guided by a well thought out, well informed and well formulated policy document.
“It is my expectation that as the ultimate beneficiaries of the policy, the youth would be challenged enough to derive maximum gains from the policy when it is reviewed.

“This would justify their deserved and rightful inclusion in national development and their full empowerment” he said.