Dr. Betty Annan, the Country Director for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Ghana Chapter, highlighted the need to engage key stakeholders and Ghanaian youth in discussions to boost youth entrepreneurship and empower them in agricultural transformation.
She pointed out that these initiatives could enhance the nation’s food systems, create job opportunities in agribusiness, and stimulate economic growth.
At a two-day conference in Accra, Dr. Annan emphasized the critical role of sustainable agricultural financial support in driving positive sector changes. She encouraged the youth to seize these opportunities to build a better future.
The conference, organized by AGRA Ghana in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, was part of the National Youth Week celebrations. It centred on highlighting agribusiness opportunities and offering technical expertise to advance innovative agribusiness models.
The theme of the conference was “Empowering Youth for Decent Jobs and a Climate-Resilient Food System in Ghana.”
In her address, Dr. Annan emphasized the importance of connecting youth with ecosystem policymakers to develop strategies that can empower young people in both the digital and agricultural sectors. “Bringing together youth and key stakeholders to discuss and plan policy actions is essential for transforming Ghana’s food systems,” she stated.
The keynote speaker, Pius Enam Hadzide, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fostering youth enterprise. “Youth enterprise development is a major priority for the government and is vital for creating sustainable jobs in the long term,” he said.
The initiative aims to create 92,000 meaningful job opportunities for young people over the next five years, focusing on providing comprehensive financial support to address potential challenges. Participants were also encouraged to develop vocational skills alongside their professions to boost income generation and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference drew youth from across the country, including beneficiaries, and featured representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and other key institutions.
