We Will Decentralize Youth Agencies – Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment (Lawyer George Opare Addo)

The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Lawyer George Opare Addo, has announced plans to decentralize youth agencies to improve the monitoring and management of beneficiaries of funds, opportunities, and programs. This initiative, he explained, would help reduce the “one-person beneficiary syndrome” and ensure a fairer distribution of resources among the youth.

Speaking during his courtesy call on the National Youth Authority (NYA), Lawyer Opare Addo emphasized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s commitment to positioning the NYA as the leading youth organization in Ghana. He highlighted the authority's critical role in championing issues affecting young people nationwide.

The minister assured staff of the NYA of his readiness to collaborate closely with them to address the many challenges confronting youth development. He stated, “Our focus and mandate is to create employment opportunities in the country and to bring an end to unemployment, which has become a national security threat.”

Lawyer Opare Addo also reaffirmed His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, the President of the Republic of Ghana, 's unwavering support for youth development initiatives. He pledged to provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to empower the youth and ensure the NYA’s success in delivering on its mandate.

As part of his priorities, the minister revealed that the government is committed to completing the various youth resource centers across six regions. He noted that these centers will be developed into multi-purpose facilities that cater to the diverse needs of young people, not just football, but also other aspects of youth development. Lawyer Opare Addo remarked, “Over the years, the focus has been on football rather than the players. This time, we will shift focus to the players and ensure holistic development.”

He concluded his address by reaffirming his mission to transform the National Youth Authority, tackle youth unemployment, and promote inclusivity in Ghana’s development agenda. His visit, he stated, was an opportunity to identify challenges within the NYA and work collectively to find lasting solutions.

Lawyer Opare Addo emphasized that the NDC government remain resolute in their commitment to creating opportunities for young people and fostering sustainable development for Ghana’s future.