NORTHERN YOUTH CALL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH POLICY

NORTHERN YOUTH CALL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH POLICY

The third Annual Northern Regional Youth conference has ended in Tamale with a call on government to fast track the implementation of the National Youth Policy that seeks to improve the living conditions of the youth of Ghana.
The about two hundred participants drawn from all the twenty districts in the Northern Region complained that the undue delay in the implementation of the much awaited National Youth Policy has retarded the development of the Ghanaian youth.
Abdul Rahaman A. Basit on behalf of his colleagues lamented that the National Youth Employment Programme has been over politicized and called for its immediate review to achieve the purpose for which it was established.
He reiterated the need for government to invent a policy document that will work in the interest of youth development as a means of empowering them to play vital roles in nation building.
Abdul Rahaman Basit cited youth unemployment as a major challenge facing the youth of northern region which serves as license to self centered power seekers to use the youth as tools for conflicts.
Speaking on the theme, “Building the capabilities of youth mobilization and effective coordination in Better Ghana Agenda,” Hon. Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister said government as part of its well tailored programmes towards youth empowerment has released 170,000 Ghana cedis for the construction of ultra modern youth centre in the region.
According to the Regional Minister, poverty continues to be the major cause of instability in the region and stated that part of the money will be spent on creating more employment opportunities to reduce the “Kayaaye” menace.
In the area of peace building, Mr. Mabengba said the Regional Security Council and the various District Security Committees have received the needed support from government to improve the security situation.
Ziblim Abubakari Shaibu, Northern Regional Youth Coordinator of the National Youth Council explained that the conference sought to outline the prospects and challenges of youth development in the northern region.
He thereby repeated his call for a stop to the use of vulgar language on the airwaves especially during live discussions and phone in programmes.
This in Mr. Shaibu’s estimation will help reduce the increase of moral decadence associated with a cross section of the youth in the Tamale metropolis.