PRESS STATEMENT: 2026 Budget Fails Ghanaian Youth – No Funding for Youth Groups
For Immediate Release
As Executive Director of the Federation of African Youth Development (FOAYD), I have reviewed the 2026 budget for the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment with deep disappointment. The budget shows a clear disconnect between government spending and the real needs of over 13 million young Ghanaians on the ground.
First, the budget is full of wasteful and unnecessary spending. Huge sums are lost to bloated administrative costs, with over $1.04 billion under the National Service Authority alone going into special allowances and honorariums. Millions more are being spent on foreign travels, per diems, and workshops for officials, while vague budget lines like “Unspecified Policy” and “Unspecified Operations” hide millions with no transparency. Too much money is also going to consultants and awards instead of direct support for youth businesses and jobs.
Second, and most worrying, there is absolutely no direct budgetary allocation for national youth groups in Ghana. These independent youth organizations are the real stakeholders who mobilize young people at the grassroots, yet they have been completely ignored. Even the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), which is legally mandated to be the apex body for all youth in Ghana, has been dormant and ineffective since 2025, with no capacity to support grassroots groups. By not funding these groups, government is shutting young people out of governance.
Third, there is a clear leadership failure within the Ghana Youth Federation itself. The President of the GYF and his executives have completely failed the youth they claim to represent. Instead of organizing, engaging, and advocating for grassroots youth groups, they are more interested in media appearances, granting TV interviews, and making lofty speeches without any real action on the ground. They have not made any genuine effort to sit down, consult, or engage with authentic youth leaders across the country.
In conclusion, the youth development funds in the 2026 budget are going in the wrong direction, enriching a few through opaque channels while leaving ordinary youth unemployed and hopeless. FOAYD demands an immediate overhaul of how youth funds are allocated, transparent tracking of every cedi spent, and direct financial support for functional, independent youth-led groups. Ghanaian youth deserve real action, not political theatre.
Signed,
Abdul Rauf Abugri Mumuni
Executive Director
Federation of African Youth Development (FOAYD)
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