Youth development must move beyond slogans to jobs, opportunities and dignity – Minority

Ranking Member of Parliament's Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has urged the government to shift focus from empty political rhetoric to tangible solutions for Ghana's youth. During remarks marking International Youth Day on August 12, Assafuah stressed that aspirations for dignity, employment, and meaningful participation in national development cannot be fulfilled through mere celebrations and empty promises.

He emphasized that a government's commitment to youth should be demonstrated through concrete opportunities and transformative impacts on their lives. Assafuah insisted that the most pressing need is the creation of jobs, sustainable employment, and a pathway for young people to secure a dignified future for themselves and their communities.

He criticized the current government's reliance on propaganda and hollow political pledges, arguing that genuine youth development requires a strategic approach that integrates education, skills training, and industry needs. He advocated for an environment conducive to private-sector growth, support for youth-led businesses, access to affordable credit, and enhanced technical and vocational education.

Assafuah demanded that any commitment to youth be accompanied by clear timelines, sufficient funding, transparent implementation, and measurable results. He urged the government to deliver on its promises with tangible steps rather than continued empty assurances. Assafuah appealed to Ghanaian youth to remain focused on learning, innovation, organization, and demanding accountability from their leaders.