Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Mr. Sylvester Matthew Tetteh has advised the youth of Ghana to continue to support the government of His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to fulfil the manifesto promises of the New Patriotic Party, chief of which is the provision of jobs to the teeming youth of Ghana.

In his 2020 Independence Day goodwill message to the youth given on the sidelines of a management retreat that the Authority recently had, Mr. Tetteh recalled the outcomes of the recently held Results Fair organized by the Ministry for Monitoring and Evaluation as a clear demonstration of the good works that the government has embarked on and called on all, notably the youth to continue to support the government to deliver fully on its given mandate.

He enumerated some remarkable interventions of the government such as the Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting For Export and Rural Development, Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), One District One Factory, One Village One Dam as commendable programmes geared at enhancing the welfare of the youth and which are all already yielding very positive results.

He tasked the youth to endeavor to take maximum advantage of these programmes that will arm them to positively transform their lives to enable them contribute meaningfully to the nation building and development exercise.

Touching on the NYA’s contributions at promoting Ghana’s youth development agenda, the CEO detailed amongst others, the numerous infrastructural projects undertaken so far such as the construction of ten (10) Youth Resource Centers of Excellence across the country, which are currently at various levels of completion with such key facilities as a FIFA standard pitch, running tracks, counselling centers and courts for other disciplines.

He proceeded to mention projects at the Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institutes (YLSTIs) which the Authority manages such as a two (2) 300 seating capacity multipurpose hall with kitchens at Sandema in the Upper East Region and Nalerigu in the Northern Region and dormitory blocks at Takorase in the Eastern Region, Ajumako in the Central Region and Abura in the Western Region, which have all been completed.

Towards enhancing the visibility of the Authority, especially at the regional and district levels which the CEO believes remain the engine of the Authority, he said rehabilitation works are currently ongoing in the already functional offices whilst new offices are being sourced to absorb an estimated 2000 personnel from the Nation Builders’ Corps (NABCO) programme to augment the woefully understaffing situation of the Authority to enable it become fully functional in all 16 Regions and the 254 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

On a policy document to regulate youth development in Ghana, Mr. Tetteh said the National Youth Policy of 2010, which is currently being reviewed has undergone a validation process awaiting submission to cabinet for consideration. He said an accompanying plan of action is also being developed and will soon be launched with the policy once the draft is approved.

Speaking on a recent video purported to have emanated from some Senior High Schools in the country and which went viral on many social media platforms, with some female students heard making vulgar utterances and seen in some obscene and repugnant postures, much against moral principles, Mr. Tetteh further implored the youth to reflect on the sacrifices made in attaining independence and remain sober, adopt positive habits and focus on their studies to enable them become worthy citizens of the state.

On the upcoming 2020 general elections, Mr. Tetteh entreated the youth to exercise restraint even in the event of extreme provocation and continue to uphold the peace and security of the nation whilst desisting from taking the law into their hands and engaging in lawless conducts.

For this year 2020, the CEO further stated that the Authority will continue to work to boost the capacity of the youth with skills that will equip them for the job market. In so doing, the Authority will continue to implement its flagship programme, Steps Towards Employment and Productivity (STEP) that was launched in May 2017 targeting unskilled and semi-skilled youth and imparting them with artisanal trade competences.

“Let’s be poised to keep hope alive and to uplift the name of Ghana at all times and to make the necessary sacrifices for our common prosperity” Mr. Sylvester Tetteh concluded.