The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Ayariga, has drawn national attention to the fact that Ghana’s youth now make up 38.2% of the population, calling for immediate and sustained action to harness their potential for national development.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 National Youth Festival, held on Friday, July 25, 2025, the NYA CEO emphasized that this growing demographic presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for policymakers, development partners, and the broader society.
“Ghana’s youth represent 38.2% of our population; a demographic dividend that holds the key to our nation’s prosperity,” he stated. “However, frameworks alone do not create change; action does.”
He called for greater youth participation in governance, access to education, economic opportunities, and skills development to fully unlock the benefits of the country’s youthful population.
The 2025 National Youth Festival, themed “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change,” is designed to address pressing challenges such as unemployment, substance abuse, and low civic engagement, while empowering young people through dialogues, entrepreneurship training, and regional outreach initiatives.
“The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today,” Mr. Ayariga affirmed.
