<p data-start="352" data-end="793">Youth in Greater Accra must organize themselves into strong, coordinated groups if they are to effectively access opportunities and influence local governance, said Mr. Archibald Donkor Jr., Director of Programmes and Operations at the National Youth Authority (NYA), at a Regional Youth Engagement on Leadership Participation held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Maamobi in the Ayawaso North Municipality.</p>
<p data-start="795" data-end="1013">The engagement brought together about 100 youth leaders from districts, municipalities and metropolitan areas across the region and aimed to strengthen youth participation in governance and local decision-making.</p>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1354">Speaking to participants, Mr. Donkor urged the youth to proactively position themselves to take advantage of opportunities available within district, municipal and metropolitan assemblies.</p>
<p data-start="1015" data-end="1354">He emphasized that collective action and organized groups are crucial for amplifying youth voices and accessing leadership roles at the local level.</p>
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<p data-start="1358" data-end="1544"><em data-start="1358" data-end="1525">“Organizing yourselves into cohesive groups will not only give you a stronger voice but also enable you to explore opportunities that exist within your communities,”</em> Mr. Donkor said.</p>
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<p data-start="1546" data-end="1792">He also highlighted pressing youth issues, including unemployment, skills development, and civic engagement. He encouraged participants to remain informed, disciplined, and committed to community development as pathways to effective leadership.</p>
<p data-start="1794" data-end="2121">Mr. Donkor further educated the youth on the role of the Ghana Youth Federation (GYF), recently inaugurated by government to coordinate youth groups nationwide.</p>
<p data-start="1794" data-end="2121">He urged them to join the federation and actively participate in shaping programs and initiatives aimed at improving youth livelihoods and development outcomes.</p>
<p data-start="2123" data-end="2419">The programme featured a presentation on Youth Leadership, Active Participation, Responsibility and Accountability, followed by breakout group discussions.</p>
<p data-start="2123" data-end="2419">Participants examined challenges limiting youth involvement in governance and later presented recommendations during plenary sessions.</p>
<p data-start="2421" data-end="2901">During the sessions, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, a youth leader, journalist, human rights activist, and Convener of the Youth Sub-platform of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the SDGs, appealed to authorities to create more practical opportunities for youth inclusion in local governance.</p>
<p data-start="2421" data-end="2901">He emphasized that meaningful participation goes beyond consultation, allowing young people to engage in planning, implementation, and monitoring of development projects.</p>
<p data-start="2903" data-end="3220">Also present, Mr. Matthias Blay, Greater Accra Regional Director of NYA, stressed the importance of youth responsibility and unity in addressing barriers to inclusion.</p>
<p data-start="2903" data-end="3220">He noted that the engagement’s outcomes would contribute to a strategic blueprint guiding youth programming and operations in local assemblies.</p>
<p data-start="3222" data-end="3590">The event, facilitated by a team from the National Youth Authority, included interactive question-and-answer sessions, fostering discussions on actionable solutions to the challenges facing youth participation in governance.</p>
<p data-start="3222" data-end="3590">Organizers said the engagement represents a significant step toward empowering young people as active partners in Ghana’s development agenda.</p>
<p data-start="3222" data-end="3590"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2993" src="https://humanrightsreporters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260119_154221-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="824" height="615" /></p>
<p data-start="3222" data-end="3590"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2992" src="https://humanrightsreporters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260119_160748-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="827" height="620" /></p>
<p data-start="3222" data-end="3590"><img class="alignnone wp-image-2994" src="https://humanrightsreporters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_20260119_154312-300x206.jpg" alt="" width="826" height="567" /></p>