Wa (Upper West), 19th April 

Youth associations in the Upper West region have attributed the high crime rate in the country to lack of skills and job opportunities to enable the youth to put their energies into productive ventures.

"We are getting increasingly frustrated and restless because of lack of skills and jobs which has led to rebellions against authorities and attacks on chiefs and police stations in some parts of the country by the youth", they pointed out.

These concerns were expressed at a youth forum organised by the National Youth Council (NYC) to discuss with district assemblies and youth groups issues affecting the over all development of the youth at Wa on Saturday.

They called for preventive measures to be taken now, to address youth problems to save the country from crime and other anti-social vices, saying, "a mass of marginalized, disgruntled and restless youth will always direct their recreational energies into undesirable pleasures".

The associations asked the government to give recognition to the NYC and its programmes at all levels to enable it to educate the youth on government policies and programmes.

Mr Joe Kpenge, Acting National Co-ordinator of NYC in response to their concerns called on traditional leaders, religious bodies and all youth organisations to help find solutions to problems confronting the youth.

He asked for more funds to be made available for the creation of jobs for the youth at the rural community levels.