Ghana on Friday commemorated World Population Day (WPD) with a call for structural investments to empower the country’s estimated 13 million youth.

Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, said youth empowerment must go beyond motivational speeches to building systems that enable young people to take charge of their lives.

Speaking at a ceremony in Accra under the theme “Empowering the Youth to Create Quality Families in an Inclusive Society,” she commended President John Mahama’s commitment to integrating skills training at all levels of education and encouraged youth to embrace entrepreneurship.

“Until we nurture the youth’s potential, equip them with relevant skills and guide their passions, we risk missing out on the greatest resource we have for transforming our societies,” she said.

Madam Gomashie called on government, civil society, private sector, religious bodies, and traditional leaders to collaborate in creating sustainable jobs and decent work for youth.

“It is not enough to tell the youth to dream big, we must make room for those dreams to materialise,” she added.

Jointly organised by the National Population Council (NPC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Ghana, the event convened stakeholders and young people to explore strategies for youth empowerment nationwide.

Ms Angelina Kodua Nyanor, Executive Director of the National Population Council, said the youth must be heard, guided, and empowered with knowledge and socio-economic stability.

“We must continually empower our youth with the right tools, which are often overlooked – knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, values in terms of responsible adulthood, technical and vocational skills, and mentorship programmes,” she said.

She cited youth unemployment, moral decline, gender-based violence, drug abuse, and social exclusion as major threats to Ghanaian families, urging swift action to address these challenges.

Madam Emily Kamwendo-Naphambo, Deputy Country Representative of UNFPA, described WPD as a moment of reflection and a catalyst for global action on urgent population and development issues.

She said Ghana’s greatest natural resource may not be gold or cocoa, but the ambition, creativity, and potential of its young people.

“A 15 per cent National Teenage Pregnancy rate is not just a health issue, but a development concern that robs girls of their education, economic future and their right to choose,” she said.

She urged government to prioritise youth needs, including comprehensive sexual education, reproductive health services, quality education, economic empowerment, and meaningful participation in decision-making.

Ms Kamwendo-Naphambo also called on traditional leaders to speak out against child marriage and gender-based violence, and challenged the private sector to “look beyond profit and invest in potential.”

She encouraged the youth to live responsible lives.

World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, raises awareness of global population issues including family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights.

This year’s global theme is “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.”

Source: GNA