The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to implementing evidence-based policies aimed at transforming the lives of young people across Ghana.
He made these remarks during a strategic engagement with Ghana’s leading youth-focused media brand, YFM, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration in advancing youth development initiatives nationwide.
According to the Minister, the establishment of the Ministry marked a deliberate shift towards structured, measurable and impactful youth interventions. He explained that before rolling out programmes, the Ministry conducted baseline studies to ensure that policies are informed by real-time data and grounded in the lived realities of young people.
“Our approach is guided by research. We have invested significantly in understanding the challenges confronting young people so that our interventions are targeted and sustainable,” he stated.
Hon. Opare Addo outlined the Ministry’s five thematic areas; health and well-being, education and skills development, youth empowerment, leadership development and patriotism , noting that these pillars are central to Ghana’s youth transformation agenda.
He further highlighted progress made under flagship programmes such as the National Apprenticeship Programme and the Adwumawura initiative, which have already equipped thousands of young people with employable skills and entrepreneurial support.
The Minister emphasised that partnerships with the media remain critical in expanding awareness of government programmes and ensuring that opportunities reach young people across all regions.
The engagement took place when a delegation from YFM, led by the Director of Broadcasting at Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC), Dr. Timothy Karikari, paid a courtesy call on the Minister. Other members of the delegation included YFM Accra’s Manager, Erskine Amo Whyte (Rev. Erskine); Head of Client Service and Partnerships, Mrs. Mary Opoku-Gyan; Head of Digital, Mr. George Nkunu; Media Executives, Philip Nii Darku Ankrah and Judeliver Eli Ahashie; as well as the Head of Digital Production, Mr. George Shackleford.
