Youth Minister Calls for Strategic Investment in Adolescents to Drive Economic Growth

The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare-Addo, has urged Ghanaians to sharpen investment in adolescents and ensure population data directly shapes national planning and budgets.

He made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 World Population Day in Accra on Tuesday.

He said the Ministry’s agenda is rooted in prevention, education and rehabilitation, aimed at placing young people “on pathways of hope rather than despair.”

The Minister said Ghana must give special attention to both adolescent girls and adolescent boys, warning that the benefits extend far beyond individual futures.

According to him, every teenage girl who continues her education greatly enhances not only her personal future but also the welfare of her future family and community and contributes to Ghana’s economic development.

Mr Opare-Addo stressed that while population statistics are often shared in reports, they must not stop there.

He argued that population data should guide how Ghana builds cities, expands transport systems, and delivers essential public services so that planning decisions reduce avoidable risks.

“When we plan properly, we will not have flooding, weather problems, or downpours, and the outcomes such as where schools and hospitals are located will depend on accurate demographic information,” he noted.

He further warned against population figures treated as mere academic exercises or limited to ceremonial presentations.

“Good population data should never end in a GDP report; it must influence the budgets of this country,” he said.

The Minister said the responsibility for empowering young people cannot rest on government alone, calling for collaboration among ministries, development partners, the private sector, civil society, academia, traditional leaders, and every Ghanaian.

“Let us ensure that no young Ghanaian is denied opportunity because of where they are born, their gender or their economic circumstances,” he said.

Mr Opare-Addo affirmed the government’s ambition to transform Ghana’s youthful population into national strength, emphasising that investing in education, health and decent work will turn demographic potential into competitive advantage.

“Together, let us transform our population into our greatest national strength,” he said.

Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD