NDPC And Youth Ministry Collaborate to Promote Youth Development
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) has engaged the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to explore collaboration in strengthening youth development, skills, employment, values, coordination, and resource optimisation.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday in Accra, the Director-General of the NDPC, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, emphasised the importance of broad-based stakeholder engagement to ensure that the Consolidated National Development Plan reflects the realities and aspirations of Ghanaians and provides continuity beyond electoral cycles.
“We should plan beyond electoral cycles to our generations,” she said, stressing the importance of long-term thinking in national development.
Dr Amoah stated the importance of the proportion of Ghana’s population made up by young people, noting that their needs, aspirations and potential must therefore remain central to national planning.
She highlighted issues including values, discipline, law and order, road safety, maintenance culture, integrity and professionalism.
She proposed a Joint Technical Working Group between the NDPC and the Ministry to provide technical input into the plan and strengthen coordination.
The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, noted that young people should be positioned as active participants in national development, rather than as beneficiaries of the future.
He called for youth development to be mainstreamed across national policy areas, rather than treated as an add-on.
He outlined the Ministry’s five strategic areas, such as health and well-being, skills training and education, economic empowerment, civic participation and community engagement, and personal development and growth.
He called for stronger institutional coordination to reduce duplication, optimise resource use, and ensure that youth programmes complement one another.
Freda Marfo, ISD
