By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Aug. 18, GNA – EQUIP Ghana, a leadership development organisation, has called for a national character transformation agenda anchored on values-based leadership to help reset Ghana and secure a better future for the next generation.
Mr Bernard Quarm, the Country Director of EQUIP Ghana, said this on Tuesday at a press conference organised under the “Next Gen Campaign: Preserving Tomorrow, Today!” in partnership with the Frimpong Manso Institute (FMI), AmaCares, and Lacross Ghana among other partners.
The Next Gen Campaign seeks to promote youth development, character formation and responsible leadership as part of efforts to preserve the nation’s future and strengthen social cohesion.
Mr Quarm said Ghana’s development challenges required more than financial resources and policy interventions, stressing that the nation needed a moral and ethical reset to drive sustainable progress.
He said the country must intentionally build a generation of leaders who would operate with integrity, accountability and patriotism.
“What our nation lacks at this critical moment is a moral compass,” Mr Quarm said.
He noted that many of the country’s challenges, including corruption, indiscipline, youth unemployment, drug abuse, environmental degradation and declining social values, were symptoms of a deeper leadership and character crisis.
He said while successive governments had pursued various development programmes, Ghana’s long-term transformation would depend on the quality of leadership and values exhibited by its citizens.
Mr Quarm urged government, educational institutions, faith-based organisations, the media, businesses and community leaders to support the National Character Transformation Agenda.
“We want to call on leaders across all the seven streams of influence, including government, business, education, media, sports and religion, to join transformational efforts to salvage the deteriorating values within society,” he said.
Mr Quarm noted that the country’s youth continued to bear the greatest consequences of poor leadership decisions, adding that many young people were increasingly losing hope in the future of the nation.
He expressed concern about growing migration aspirations among young Ghanaians, saying it reflects a desire by many to seek opportunities elsewhere instead of contributing to national development.
“Statistics continue to show that many young people would leave the country if given the opportunity. We need to ask ourselves what that means for Ghana’s future,” he stated.
The call for a National Character Transformation Agenda comes amid increasing public concern over social challenges such as youth unemployment, drug abuse, illegal mining (galamsey), environmental degradation, indiscipline and rising mental health cases among young people.
Stakeholders have noted that while investments and economic reforms remain important, sustained national development would require a strong foundation of ethical leadership, patriotism and responsible citizenship, particularly among the youth,
Mr Samuel Boateng, National Administrator of EQUIP Ghana, said the future of the country could not be left to chance and required deliberate investments in young people today.
He said social challenges such as moral decadence, drug abuse, child exploitation, sexually transmitted infections and environmental irresponsibility should be viewed not only as social concerns but also as leadership issues.
“We cannot simply complain about the next generation; we must equip them,” Mr Boateng said.
He said the Next Gen Campaign sought to stimulate dialogue on practical solutions to challenges confronting the youth while promoting responsible leadership and citizenship.
Rev. Mrs Angela Carmen Appiah, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Corporate Governance Network and Executive Promoter of EQUIP Ghana, called for stronger efforts to embed values education and mental health awareness in schools.
She noted that drug abuse, youth exploitation and mental health challenges were increasingly threatening the continent’s development ambitions.
“Good governance means protecting the vulnerable, ensuring accountability, and creating opportunities for young people to flourish,” Rev. Mrs Appiah said.
She urged policymakers to invest in youth-friendly rehabilitation and mental health services while strengthening measures against drug trafficking and sexual exploitation.
She called for intentional mentorship programmes, curriculum reforms and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to nurture responsible citizens and future leaders.
She said that Ghana’s transformation would require a collective commitment to ethical leadership, patriotism and national service.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
18 Aug 2026
Reporter: Jibril Abdul Mumuni