For decades, the population of Ghana has been relatively youthful. According to figures from the recently published Population and Housing Census in Ghana, the population growth rate between 2000 and 2010 was 28.1% (Ghana Statistical Service, 2010). The National Population Council observes that although the population of young people is projected to decline in the near future, their continued increase in absolute numbers after 2025 poses a challenge to the country. [...]

A World Bank survey in 2011 showed that about 40% of those who joined rebel movements said they were motivated by lack of jobs.

Successive governments in Ghana have focused on economic empowerment as the key to youth development; apparently due to the alarming unemployment rate. However, this approach has failed. In spite of the numerous youth development initiatives by government and its agencies, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, youth groups and other civil society organisations, these initiatives are not implemented within any clear framework with specific national goals on youth development. Such programmes and projects were also poorly coordinated and as a result achieved limited impact and gave room for duplication of efforts and activities.

The absence of a national youth platform where young people's capacities could be built to engage in governance has also been a key challenge. Even though young people are represented on some state boards and committees there have been practical difficulties.

In recognition of the need to adopt a holistic approach to youth development in Ghana, government launched a youth policy in August, 2010 which sets clear youth development objectives and priority areas. [...]

The availability of young people for participation can equally be problematic since many are in school while others are in employment. One other difficulty is the identification of legitimate youth representatives since there are many youth groups. The challenges are complicated by the deep political polarisation on the youth front where some young people are unable to separate youth interests from political affiliations.   In Ghana for instance, students are represented on some national boards by law. Examples of such boards are the Ghana Education Trust Fund, the Student Loan Trust Fund Board as well as the National Youth Council Board. In our universities too, students are represented on several boards and committees. We can address the problem of representation by building an effective and to some extent independent National Youth Commission which will register all youth groups at the national regional and district levels to be duly recognised as such.