AU Day: African Leaders Call for Unity, Economic Justice, and Youth Empowerment

At the Accelerate Africa’s Growth Conference held in commemoration of Africa Union Day, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr. Osman Abdulai Ayariga Esq., delivered a speech on behalf of the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Hon. George Opare Addo. In his address, Mr. Ayariga highlighted the significance of Africa’s unity and the critical role of young people in the continent’s development. He cited the legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and praised President John Dramani Mahama’s continued advocacy for youth inclusion in governance and economic transformation. Mr. Ayariga also outlined major youth-focused initiatives under the Mahama administration, including the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), aimed at equipping thousands of young Ghanaians with practical skills and opportunities.

Speaking at the same conference, H.E. Nyakan June, Convenor of Accelerating Africa’s Growth, challenged Africans to become more informed and intentional about the continent’s partnerships. She stated, “We have to be people who are willing to acquire knowledge, to be well informed. If we were well informed, we wouldn’t have sold our inheritance.” Emphasizing the need for mutually beneficial collaborations, she called for a re-engineering of Africa’s bilateral trade relationships to ensure a win-win outcome that prioritizes the continent’s interests.

H.E. Nana Frimpomaa, Flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), echoed a sobering message, stating that AU Day should not merely be celebrated but used as an opportunity to confront hard truths. “Freedom without unity is false,” she declared. “Independence without ownership is dependency, and Pan-Africanism without economic justice is a shadow of what it was meant to be.” Her remarks reinforced calls for deep economic reforms and genuine continental integration rooted in equity and self-determination.