Steven Nhyira Odarteifio declares NDC youth bid

Steven Nhyira Odarteifio has announced his candidacy for the position of National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). His primary goal is to assist President John Dramani Mahama and his administration in transforming the political mandate given to the party by Ghanaians into economic opportunities, dignity, and hope for Ghana's young people.

Odarteifio believes that the NDC's return to power under Mahama represents an opportunity to renew the social contract with the young generation that voted for a government promising jobs, skills, and enterprise. The NDC Youth Wing must serve as a vital link between the economic opportunities being created by the Mahama administration and the millions of young Ghanaians who require access to these opportunities.

Examples of such initiatives include the Adwumawura Programme, the National Apprenticeship Programme, and the One Million Coders project, which showcase the government's commitment to equipping young Ghanaians for a rapidly changing economy. Odarteifio's candidacy is driven by a sense of obligation, as he understands the faith placed in President Mahama and the NDC by millions of young Ghanaians.

His primary focus is on ensuring that these interventions reach the intended recipients. He envisions the Youth Wing transcending election-time mobilisation and becoming an ongoing mechanism to connect young people with capital, skills, enterprise, agriculture, technology, and markets. Odarteifio aims to help the Youth Wing contribute to the economic empowerment of at least one million additional young Ghanaians before the conclusion of President Mahama's administration.

Agriculture is a central focus of his vision, as he believes it holds significant potential for youth employment, enterprise, and industrialisation. He is also the creator of the Ghana Agricultural Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET), an initiative with the goal of raising GH¢100 million by December 2028 to finance agricultural education and address the skills gap threatening the sector's long-term growth.