Chief Naa Alhassan Issahaku Amadu, Northern Regional Population Officer, has called on the youth to take bold initiatives to secure their future instead of looking up to the authorities for direction.

He said, “You must do something to your own benefit rather than always banging on the doors of politicians to ask for stipends or jobs because your party is in power.”

Chief Alhassan made the call at the opening of the 4th Zonal Youth Forum organised by the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Tamale on Monday with the objective to discuss the way-forward towards the implementation of the National Youth Policy.

The government in 2010, launched the National Youth Policy in pursuance with its investment in the youth for a “Better Ghana Agenda”, with the aim to empower the youth to enable them to contribute positively towards national development.

The forum, which brought together youth from the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions was on the theme: “Review of Youth Development in Ghana Since the Launch of the National Youth Policy: Consultation for Further Actions”.

Chief Alhassan said the youth must see themselves as change agents and act in a manner that would bring development not only to themselves but the nation as a whole.

He therefore called on the youth to avoid acts such as being in the fore-front of especially political violence to ensure a peaceful society for accelerated development.

He called on decision makers to involve the youth in the decision making process since they would be the beneficiaries of such decisions.

Mrs Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, Chief Executive Officer of NYA, who gave an overview of the youth situation in the country, said there was the need to provide genuine and meaningful experiences with appropriate tools necessary for the youth as well as the development of their communities.

She said, “Government and/or decision-makers need not only to view young people as valuable resources that can be mobilised in support of local, national and global development, but to provide them with the support, platform and opportunities to maximise their potential profitably.”

Alhaji Haruna Friday, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive who represented the Northern Regional Minister, expressed government’s commitment to continue to roll out measures to empower and develop the youth.

Mr. Shaibu Ziblim, Regional Youth Coordinator, enumerated a number of challenges facing the youth and the NYA, including lack of office space and logistics, which hampered effective youth development.

He said despite the challenges, the NYA was determined to work to ensure the empowerment of the youth.**