By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Nov 26, GNA – Mr Rune Skinnebach, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) to explore avenues for deepening partnerships aimed at strengthening youth development initiatives in the country.
The meeting, held at the Vice-Chancellor’s office in Tamale, formed part of the Ambassador’s familiarisation tour and his commitment to engaging institutions that played key roles in shaping the capacity and future of young people.
Mr Skinnebach, speaking during the meeting, said the EU prioritized youth empowerment as central pillar of its development agenda for Ghana.
He said the visit was to better understand UDS’s youth-focused programmes and identify areas for enhanced cooperation.
He explained that empowering the next generation of leaders required strategic partnerships between government, academia, and development partners, adding the EU was committed to supporting initiatives that prepared young people to take up leadership roles.
He said “Every nation depends on its youth for transformational growth. This potential can only be realized through intentional investments and strong collaboration with key institutions such as UDS.”
A major highlight of the Ambassador’s visit was his engagement with members of the EU Youth Sounding Board, an advisory group that provided insights on youth inclusion in EU development efforts.
Mr Skinnebach observed a debate organized by the Board on the theme: “This house will support EU suspension of agricultural imports from Ghana until galamsey-affected farmlands are fully rehabilitated.”
The debate created a platform for young people to interrogate the impact of illegal mining activities (galamsey) on agriculture, food security, and the environment, while contributing perspectives on the role of the youth in combating the menace.
The Ambassador said illegal mining posed an existential threat to the survival of many communities emphasising the need for the youth to play a proactive role in advocating for environmental protection.
He urged young people to complement efforts of government and development partners to safeguard the environment and the country’s natural resources, saying, their voices and actions were crucial to sustainable national development.
Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, Vice-Chancellor of UDS, expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the visit and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to championing youth-centred policies and leadership development.
He said the University’s student-focused approach had significantly contributed to its achievements in academia, sports, and leadership, reiterating that young people remained central to the institution’s mission.
Professor Al-Hassan emphasized that addressing the galamsey challenge required the active involvement of the youth given their critical role in shaping Ghana’s future.
He urged the youth to support national efforts aimed at restoring degraded lands and promoting environmental sustainability.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah