<p><strong>The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment on Tuesday launched the Youth Xplore mobile application and the National Youth Tracker Platform, both developed in partnership with AGRA, an African-led organization, in a major national effort to streamline youth opportunities and strengthen coordinated support for young people across the country.</strong></p>
<p>The launch — held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel Conference Room in Accra — also witnessed the unveiling of the AgTractive Campaign, designed to attract more young Ghanaians into modern agriculture through innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.</p>
<p>The high-level event brought together heads of government agencies, civil society, development partners, youth groups and private sector stakeholders.</p>
<p><strong>A Unified National System for Youth Development </strong></p>
<p>Delivering the key address, Hon. George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, described the event as “a defining moment in Ghana’s youth transformation agenda.”</p>
<p>He said the new tools, developed collaboratively with AGRA, mark a major shift from fragmented youth programming to a unified, data-driven national system.</p>
<p>“For years, agencies worked hard but not smart. Some young people received support multiple times while others received none.</p>
<p>With the Youth Tracker Platform, developed together with AGRA, we finally have a clear national picture of who needs what, where the gaps are, and how to target resources fairly,” the Minister said.</p>
<p>The platform integrates data and programs from all major youth-focused institutions — the National Youth Authority (NYA), National Service Authority, Youth Employment Agency (YEA), and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) — allowing the government to track outcomes, reduce duplication and improve transparency.</p>
<p><strong>Youth Xplore App: Opportunity in the Hands of Young Ghanaians </strong></p>
<p>The Youth Xplore App, also developed through the AGRA partnership, uses smart profiling to match young people to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Jobs</li>
<li>Paid and unpaid internships</li>
<li>Apprenticeships</li>
<li>Entrepreneurship support</li>
<li>Scholarships</li>
<li>Government programs</li>
<li>Agribusiness pathways</li>
</ul>
<p>“This app sees the young person as a whole human being — not just certificates, but skills, ambitions and potential,” the Minister noted.</p>
<p>“It is mentorship at scale, and opportunity without protocol.”</p>
<p>The app includes disability-friendly features such as screen readers, voice navigation, high-contrast modes and sign-language video support to ensure fully inclusive participation.</p>
<p><strong>AGRA: “Agriculture Is a Platform for Youth Prosperity” </strong></p>
<p>In a solidarity message, Dr. Betty Annan, Country Director of AGRA, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to driving youth empowerment across Africa, noting that AGRA provided both funding and technical support for the development of the Youth Tracker Platform and the YouthXplore App.</p>
<p>“We are proud to collaborate with the Ministry to develop the Youth Tracker and the YouthXplore App, because we believe in creating a better world for Africa’s youth,” she said.</p>
<p>“Agriculture today is innovation, technology and opportunity, and the AgTractive campaign will connect young people to profitable agribusiness pathways.”</p>
<p>Dr. Annan cited global studies indicating that agriculture yields one of the highest returns on investment and remains the most effective sector for poverty reduction.</p>
<p><strong>Chief Director Highlights the Ministry’s Vision </strong></p>
<p>The Chief Director, Enam Agyemang Ofori, emphasized that the partnership with AGRA strengthens the Ministry’s mandate to coordinate youth programs nationwide.</p>
<p>She outlined the Ministry&#8217;s five priority pillars: health and well-being, education and skills development, economic empowerment, civic engagement and youth leadership development.</p>
<p>“The Youth Xplore platform and the Tracker system reflect our commitment to harmonizing youth interventions and providing real opportunities for Ghana’s young people,” she said.</p>
<p><strong>AgTractive Campaign: Redefining Agriculture for the Next Generation </strong></p>
<p>The Minister also launched the AgTractive Campaign, funded by AGRA and aligned with the continental YEF-FA (Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture) initiative.</p>
<p>The campaign aims to reposition agriculture as an attractive, profitable and innovation-driven sector, especially for women and disadvantaged youth.</p>
<p>“If young people decide to venture into agriculture, the sky is the limit. AI can do many things, but it cannot replace food production,” the Minister stressed.</p>
<p><strong>A National Call to Action </strong></p>
<p>The Minister urged donor partners, private sector actors and youth organizations to take full advantage of the new platforms and ensure lasting impact.</p>
<p>To the youth, he issued a powerful appeal:</p>
<p>“Download the Youth Xplore App. Build your profile. Let the nation see your potential. Opportunities will no longer depend on who you know — they will depend on what you can do.”</p>
<p>He envisioned a Ghana where no young person feels compelled to migrate for opportunities because they can prosper at home.</p>
<p><strong>A Milestone in Ghana’s Youth Development Journey </strong></p>
<p>The launch of the Youth Tracker Platform, the Youth Xplore App and the AgTractive Campaign — all developed through a strategic partnership with AGRA — marks a significant advancement toward a unified, evidence-based youth development system in Ghana.</p>
<p>Stakeholders agree the new tools will help government better target investments, reduce unemployment, and position young people at the centre of national development.</p>
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