The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah has officially launched the 13th Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Forum 2018, dubbed “shaping our future and world” in a brief ceremony at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Wednesday.

The Award forum which has been in existence since 1967 seeks to empower young Ghanaians to achieve their best and develop practical life skills.

Addressing the forum, Hon. Isaac Kwame Asiamah stressed on the importance of Youth empowerment, the need for Government to be commited to youth development while creating the awareness on the way forward for young people to be successful.

He added that, the Government has rolled out interventions like Nation Builders Corps(NABCO), Youth in Sports Module and Digital Marketing Program to engage the Youth in meaningful ventures.

The Hon. Minister acknowledged the Board of Trustees, Philanthropists, Ministers and other actors in the global scheme who have helped steer the need to empower the Youth.

His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO urged the Youth to be innovative and believe in themselves adding that he was optimistic about a fruitful deliberation over the course and hopes for a future collaboration in that regard.

Present at the ceremony was the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Curtis Perry Kwabla Okudzeto, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Head of States Awards Scheme, Mr. Peter Anum, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Mr. Emmanuel Asigri, and the Board of Trustees for the Awards Scheme.