National Population Council  Calls for Direct Youth Participation in Ghana’s Policy Formulation

The Acting Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Madam Angelina Osei Kodua-Nyanor, has urged young people to take an active part in shaping government policies, noting that their views are essential to Ghana’s development.

She made the call during a media interaction on Thursday as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Population Day celebration.

Madam Kodua Nyanor said policies that affect young people are more likely to achieve their intended outcomes when they are developed with the active involvement of the youth.

She said this year’s World Population Day theme, “Investing in Ghana’s Future through Healthy, Skilled and Empowered Young People,” places young people at the centre of national development discussions.

“We always think everything is government, so we are not involved. But the youth have a saying, ‘Nothing for us without us, by us,'” she said.

According to her, activities planned for the national celebration have been designed to bring together policymakers and young people to encourage meaningful dialogue on issues affecting the country’s future.

“The policymakers must hear from the youth and know what they want. It has become like we make policies and then say the youth do not conform to them. It is time to bring them to the table to hear from them what they want to see and what they think will help them,” she noted.

Madam Kodua-Nyanor expressed confidence that such engagements would lead to better policies and improved opportunities for young people.

“When we are together like that, we will have a bright future for our youth,” she added.

Responding to questions on Ghana’s population, the Acting Executive Director said the country’s population continues to grow steadily, with current projections placing it at about 34 million people.

She explained that the figure was based on projections from the 2021 Population and Housing Census and not on a new national census.

“The current population is approximately 34 million. The official figures will come from the next Population and Housing Census. The projections are not actual figures”, she said.

Madam Kodua-Nyanor noted that official population projections are produced by the Ghana Statistical Service, while actual population figures are confirmed through the national census.

“I will leave the projections to our partner, the Ghana Statistical Service,” she said.

Asked whether Ghana’s population growth rate was becoming a concern, she said the country’s growth was progressing at a manageable pace. “Not too fast, not too slow, but we are going,” she noted.

She also welcomed government efforts to ensure that social services and development policies keep pace with population growth, saying collaboration among government institutions, communities and development partners would be needed to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.

World Population Day is observed annually to raise awareness of population issues and promote policies that support sustainable development, health and the well-being of people, especially young people. This year’s activities will include public education campaigns and stakeholder engagements focused on expanding opportunities for Ghana’s youth.

Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD