The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mahama Ayariga has launched the 2014 World Population Report at the Accra International Conference Centre today.
The Report has as its theme, “The Power of 1.8 Billion: Adolescents, Youth and the Transformation of the Future”.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, Hon. Ayariga reiterated Governments commitment to pursue policies and programs central to the youth and youth related issues.
Hon. Ayariga stated that over the years Government had dedicated the highest budgetary allocation to the educational sector adding that most of the youth were in schools at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels.
The Minister said that programs such as the Youth Entrepreneurial Support,initiated by President John Dramani Mahama to assist young Ghanaians with creative and innovative business ideas and plans to achieve their full potential, were meant to empower the youth and provide them with skills of a varied nature.
Hon. Ayariga thanked the UNFPA for providing data and information that brought to bear on the quality of governance in the country adding that the Ministry would continue to support them in any capacity to highlight youth issues.
The UNESCO Representative in Ghana, Mr. Tirso Dos-Santos expressed delight at Government’s assurance to integrate the youth meaningfully into society and harness their contribution to national development.
Mr Dos-Santos called for more efforts to expand opportunities for the youth and improve their quality of employment.
Professor Stephen Kwakye of the University of Ghana did a presentation on the Highlights of the Global Report.
Present were Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi, UNFPA representative; and Mr. Ras Mubarak, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority.
Source: ISD (Larry George Botchway)