A nationwide survey by Youth Placement for Employability Solutions (Y-PES Ghana) has revealed a major awareness gap, showing that more than 91 per cent of young people in Ghana are unaware of the National Youth Policy nearly five years after its introduction.
The study, which covered about 2,000 respondents across all 16 regions, found that only 8.8 per cent of participants were aware of the policy framework designed to guide youth development and empowerment.
Presenting the findings at a leadership training programme for Senior High School and basic school prefects in Wa, Executive Director of Y-PES Ghana, Mr Mumuni Sulemanna, said the results highlight a worrying disconnect between national policy and youth engagement.
He noted that the survey, conducted over nearly a year using online questionnaires, aimed to assess how well young people understand government initiatives targeted at them.
Mr Sulemanna expressed concern that many young people remain unaware of their rights under the policy, limiting their ability to demand accountability from duty bearers.
He called on the National Youth Authority and the National Commission for Civic Education to intensify public education campaigns to improve awareness and participation among the youth.
He also urged government to ensure timely release of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation meant for youth development programmes.
Some participants at the training expressed appreciation for the initiative, saying it had exposed them to the policy for the first time and strengthened their leadership awareness.
They, however, echoed concerns about the need for wider dissemination of the policy, with some calling for copies to be made available in schools nationwide.
