The National Network of Youth Groups in Local Governance, a group of youth representatives, have called on government for greater participation of the youth in local governance.

The call was made in a communiqué which was issued at the end of a national youth forum and presented to the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah by Ms Theodora Anti, the Public Relations Officer of the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) and a section of the youth representatives

The national youth forum on youth participation in local governance which was attended by 36 youth representatives from the 10 regions, was organised FOSDA and the Institute of Local Government Studies.

The network said it has realised the need for the youth to harness their right to be actively involved in decision making at the local government level, especially as the youth are the core of the national human resource.

They called for the implementation of the action plan of National Youth Authority, creation of youth sub-committees by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and the establishment of youth parliaments at the national level.

The communiqué asked for youth development programmes such as the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA) and the Local Enterprises and Skills Development Programme to be channeled through the National Youth Authority.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said the Flagstaff House decided to relocate the operations of GYEEDA hence the bill to put it under the umbrella of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is in its advanced stages and nearing its passing.

Mr Oppong Asamoah said there should be a youth representation on the governing boards that disburse GYEEDA funds since the agency deals with the youth.

He said he was “satisfied” with what he saw at a youth parliament in the Upper West Region and believes that more needs to be done in the area of training, mentorship and career development of the youth representatives.

The Deputy Minister revealed that his ministry would be collaborating with the Ministry of Education to provide each region with a sports college which would operate while basic and senior high schools are on recess.

Schools across the regions with some level of sports infrastructure would also be targeted and the sporting facilities upgraded to the level of sports academies.

The minister said that sports should not be sidelined in the name of “youth development” since it forms youth development and a powerful tool for national branding as well.