Accra, Sept. 28, GNA – Insight Foundation, a youth empowerment and development NGO in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry, would organise the first National Youth Economic Empowerment Summit (YEES) in Accra from April 18-19, 2012.

The summit which would run on the theme, “Harnessing the Potentials of the Youth through Job and Wealth Creation: The Role of Stakeholders”, would create the platform to strengthen public-private sector dialogue with the youth on existing challenges and prospects in various sectors of national development.

These include agriculture and agro business, mining, oil and gas, ICT, entrepreneurship, environment and education.

A statement signed by Mr Sam Crabbe, Communications Director of Insight Foundation and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday, said the summit would feature presentations from government institutions, the Ghana Employers Association, Association of Ghana Industries, Chamber of Mines, Chamber of Oil and Gas and business leaders.

It cited unemployment, drug addition, peer pressure and cyber fraud as some of the challenges militating against efforts of the youth to contribute meaningfully to the country’s growth and development.

The summit would afford tertiary students, young professionals and entrepreneurs opportunities to be equipped with open information on job creation and help them to network with relevant corporate leaders.

“The youth are the heritage of any society because they hold the key to the future of their countries. They have abundant energy that can be channelled into productive endeavours of their communities,” the statement added.