Young Ghanaians need markets and opportunities to turn skills into Jobs – Youth Advocates.

Two prominent youth development advocates in Ghana have called for enhanced market access, leadership opportunities and platforms for young people to leverage their skills and create jobs. Following Ghana's participation in the global observance of International Youth Day 2026, the focus is on the shared aspirations of young people from various backgrounds for quality education, meaningful work and entrepreneurship.

Nana Kusi Appiah, CEO of Ghana Fertilizer Limited and a participant in the Kosmos Innovation Center programme, emphasized the importance of access to finance and business development support, which enabled him to convert his idea into a business producing fertilizer from organic waste. However, he stressed that access to finance must be accompanied by access to markets, as young businesses often struggle to compete for contracts and tenders dominated by larger, established companies.

Appiah advocates for measures that would give qualified youth-led businesses fair opportunities to participate in public and private procurement, such as a quota system.

Christabel Odonkor, founder of Youth in Transformative Development Africa (YIDA), highlighted the need for platforms for young people to apply their skills and contribute meaningfully to national development. She believes young people must also be provided with opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities and build better futures.

Odonkor, a communication and development professional, underscores the importance of reforms in the education sector and stronger collaboration between the education system, government, development organizations and other institutions working on youth development, given the rapid changes in the world of work.