The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has added his voice to the call to empower the youth in preparation for leadership roles in the future.

The capacity of the youth, who are the next leaders of the nation and currently play a key part in national discourse, needs to be built up to enable them deliver, Dr Bawumia emphasised.

Vice President Bawumia made the call when the leadership of Junior Chamber International (JCI), led by Mrs. Reem Abdel-Hadi, International Vice President, paid a courtesy call on him at the Flagstaff House to officially introduce the new Ghanaian leadership of JCI and to outline their contribution to national development.

“The objective of the Junior Chamber International is laudable and the continuous existence of the organization for over hundred years affirms the good work it is doing. Junior Chamber International is a club of future leaders and I like the idea of volunteerism.

“The youth are the future and need to be empowered to deliver. The youth should be innovative. I encourage you to do more and the sky is the limit” Dr. Bawumia said.

National development, Dr Bawumia indicated, is a collective effort, and government is grateful for the contribution of organisations such as JCI who offer the youth opportunities to develop themselves.

Mrs. Reem Abdel-Hadi praised Vice President Bawumia for the active role he continues to play in helping the youth to take active part in nation building, and commended government for its youth-friendly policies.

Stephen Kwaku Darku, President of the Ghana Chapter of JCI, announced that the organisation is liaising with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Youth Authority to develop a 10 year national volunteering strategy dubbed an Active Citizens Campaign, modelled on the National Youth Policy, to re-ignite the spirit of volunteerism in Ghana among the youth.

Mr. Emmanuel Asigri, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, pledged his organisation’s commitment to the “fruitful partnership” with JCI, especially in the quest to encourage volunteerism.

JCI is a nonprofit organization of young active citizens aged between 18 and 40yrs who are engaged and committed to creating meaningful impacts in their communities through volunteerism. Founded over 100 years ago, the Ghana chapter was established 11 years ago.

Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton and John Fitzgerald Kennedy are alumni of Junior Chamber International.