Daniel Owusu (middle) Country Youth Lead, WB Ghana Youth Voices with Patrick Mullen, Program Lead, Human Development Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and some members of the GYV steering Committee
Ghana Youth Voices chapter, part of the World Bank Youth 2 Youth Community, was launched yesterday in Accra as part of efforts to create opportunities, and put an end to poverty.
This forms part of the Bank’s initiative towards empowering the youth, and understanding the pivotal role that they play at the global, national and community levels.
It is also to encourage the formation of local hubs to address the needs of young people as well as create a platform where young voices are amplified.
Speaking during the launch, the Country Youth Lead WB Ghana Youth Voices, Daniel Owusu, said the initiative will accelerate economic transformation through job creation and promotion of entrepreneurial development.
He noted that Ghana Youth Voices had been on the road for the longest time, stressing that “through diligence, patience, and also creating value, they have come to the establishment of the chapter”.
“It has not been easy throughout the year making this materialise. However, with perseverance, hard work, dedication, and patience, we have come this far. Sitting here today gives me a great memory, and I believe it is the beginning of greater things to come,” he indicated.
Initiative
Mr Owusu explained that the initiative is aimed at diversifying employment opportunities through the energy and agricultural sectors, access to finance, investment climate reform, and quality infrastructure.
He added that it would offer a more engaging structure and position the World Bank to better understand and strategize specific investment programmes suitable for the Ghanaian youth.
“We intend to provide a program that will accurately reflect economic activities, provide economic activities, and create employment opportunities to cushion the youth and the economy in general,” he revealed
He mentioned that the proposed initiatives have in store the National Youth-Oriented/Focused Organization Ecosystem Mapping, Webinars on the Digital Economy: The Future of Work Post-Covid and other WBG Focal Areas: Hackathons (Youth Innovation Fund), Know the World Bank Group and Visit Project Sites with Youth, Work Readiness and SMEs Support Programs, Town Hall Conversations—Aligned to the World Bank’s initiatives and activities.
The rest include The Green Call or The Green Series—conversations around climate change, energy, and recycling—and The Youth Corner—purposefully to highlight and feature trailblazers in all sectors.
Steering committee
On the steering committee, he explained that it is based on the recommendations of individuals who are working in certain key thematic areas of the bank and have shown value in their contributions through their respective areas.
“It is imperative for the steering committee to initiate great recommendations from individuals and create an enabling environment for them to showcase their recommendations in their chosen areas of endeavour. This will in turn serve as a springboard for the display of achievers and serve as a form of motivation for others who are equally doing well in other areas,” he stated.
Role of youth
The World Bank’s Y2Y Global Lead, Abigail Yirrah, said the role young people play at the global, national and community levels cannot be underestimated.
According to her, the December 14 launch is a step in the right direction, adding that it is important to ensure that poverty is ended, employment opportunities created, and women empowered and supported at all times to reach their full potential.
“The UN reports that we have 31.73 million people in Ghana, who account for 16% of the global population of this number (330). 6% of them are young people, and about seven percent of that entire population of 31.7 million is under 35 years old. You all agree with me and Madonna has very robust economic growth, and even with COVID and a lot of mishaps, we were still able to rebound in a way that, you know, other countries are hoping to emulate,” she observed.
On his part, the Programme Lead for Human Development in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Patrick Mullen, stressed the need to empower the youth.
“They have the ability to position themselves on a promising pedestal that will effectively contribute to boosting the economy and reducing unemployment rates,” he added.
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