Ghana’s efforts to reform youth employment and educational systems are gaining traction through a novel approach—collaborative governance, where youth, government, industry, and civil society co-create policy in real time.
This shift was on full display at the Youth Employment and Skills (YES) Chapter of the Pan African Coalition for Transformation (PACT) Knowledge Café, held in Accra. Organized by Youth Opportunity and Transformation in Africa (YOTA) under the guidance of the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), the event brought together key stakeholders in an innovative bid to reimagine how public policy is designed and delivered.
“Rather than waiting for policies to fail before we critique them, this platform allows us to co-design them with government and stakeholders from the start,” said Mr. Eric Saforo, YES-PACT Ghana Chapter Team Lead.
The Knowledge Café, a signature initiative of YES-PACT, serves as a real-time laboratory where ideas are tested, refined, and shaped into what Mr. Saforo called “knowledge products”—policy briefs, newsletters, and research inputs that inform the lifecycle of government action.
This year’s session spotlighted Ghana’s ICT in Education Policy and Guidance and Counseling Policy, with young policy actors like the Young Diplomats of Ghana taking center stage. Their presentations provided practical recommendations on employment and digital education reform, echoing the voices of the youth most affected by such policies.
A key concern raised was the accessibility of digital tools in education. Saforo emphasized that unless local languages are integrated into ICT frameworks, marginalized communities risk being left behind. “If people use technology in local languages for entertainment, we must find a way to extend that to learning,” he argued.
Mr. Sammy Amegayebo, Executive Director of GREDA and Chair of the Sector Skills Body for Construction, reiterated the critical role of industry in shaping education policy. He praised the ICT in Education policy but warned of the complexities of implementing language inclusion in a country with over 40 languages. “A dual system—one native and one international language—may be more realistic,” he suggested.
Participants from the Ministry of Education and Sector Skills Boards provided insight into how industry-academic partnerships can realign Ghana’s educational curriculum with market demand, ensuring young graduates are job-ready.
What sets YES-PACT apart is its long-term approach. Operating in six African countries, including Ghana, the initiative is designed to support governments over a three-year period, enabling them to build resilient, inclusive policies that reflect the realities on the ground.
“Our job isn’t to critique from the sidelines but to sit at the table and offer solutions,” Saforo said. “We work with ministries to evaluate existing policies, identify gaps, and mobilize the expertise needed for implementation.”
The Knowledge Café concluded with a strong call for institutionalizing youth participation in national policy-making processes. Organizers emphasized that for Ghana to truly transform its education and employment landscape, it must move beyond top-down policymaking and embrace dynamic, co-created systems.
“Inclusive policy development isn’t just good governance—it’s smart policy,” organizers stated.
