Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has called for a clear policy direction that focuses on a collective attention to unleashing the energies of Africa’s youth towards national development and, ultimately, continental unity and prosperity.

She bemoaned the fact that in spite of the critical role the youth play in the development of any nation “we are confronted with a daunting statistics that suggest that the youth are not given the priority that they deserve both in the formulation of individual government policies across the African continent”

The Minister made these comments at a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 54th anniversary of the Organisation of the African Unity, under the theme: ‘Harnessing the demographic dividend through investment in youth’.

She emphasised that the youth are the bedrock of every nation’s development and should, therefore, have an interest in the policies and programmes that shape their future and are the first causalities in armed conflicts and poorly managed economies.

The Minister, however, stated that the continent, in spite of its numerous challenges, has remained resilient in fulfilling the aspirations of its founding fathers and the current generation.

"The last 54 years with 54 independent countries has not been without its challenges. Events from the continent have ranged from conflicts, chronic instability, poor governance, arbitrary rule and dictatorship, human rights abuses, including genocide, widespread poverty, famine, droughts mass migration, outbreak of deadly epidemics, such as AIDS, Ebola and complex humanitarian crisis," she noted

In furthering the African agenda, she emphasised that "our continental body stands to this day as a symbol of Africa's determination to forge ahead towards a prosperous and peaceful Africa, the Africa we want".

She added that the relentless quest for African unity, to which its leaders are committed, is crucial to the continent’s collective survival and progress.

“This is because the role of African unity underpins relations between AU member states”, she said.

She emphasised that to realise the African dream, there is need for integration and good relations amongst member states.

"Our continued and relentless march towards integration should continue to provide the incentive for all African nations to overcome the intolerable contradictions between our abundant natural resources on one hand and the economic deprivation to which most African citizens have been subjected to, over the past decades," she noted.

She reminded African leaders of the agreed benchmarks critical to the achievement of the African aspirations, which includes inclusive growth, sustainable development, good governance and democracy and the rule of law.