Regional News of Thursday, 12 August 2004

Source: GNA

Government urged to provide resources to NYC

Accra, Aug. 12, GNA - The Federation of Youth Associations of Ghana (FEDYAG) on Wednesday appealed to the Government to provide adequate resources to the National Youth Council (NYC) to enable it to perform its duties effectively.

The federation also urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to assist youth associations to source funds from the Ghana AIDS Commission to embark on HIV/AIDS education to help reduce the spread of the disease.

These were contained in a resolution passed at the end of a day's delegates' congress held at Wa in the Upper West Region and issued in Accra.

The participants praised the Wa Municipal Assembly and the traditional authorities for maintaining total peace in the area and appealed to the Assembly to cater for the interest of vulnerable youth. They asked for the involvement of the youth in the making of decisions that affected them and called for collaboration from the Government and corporate groups to help to fight negative cultural practices such as female genital mutilation that impeded development and fundamental human rights.

They appealed to the Assembly to take immediate action to relocate scattered mechanics and scrap dealers in the Municipality to help to decongest the area in a bid to beautify the town.

Mr Godfred Tango, Wa Municipal Chief Executive, advised the youth to take their studies seriously to become responsible citizens. He deplored the attitude of some of the youth in the area that did not engage in any gainful employment and said the Region was endowed with rich cultural resources that they could explore to their advantage. He noted that the Region continued to trail in inter-regional sporting competition and urged sportsmen and sportswomen to train hard to bring laurels to the Region.