By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Adidome (V/R), Oct 1, GNA – Dr Emmily Naphambo, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has urged young people to protect their future by staying in school, avoiding early pregnancy and substance abuse, and taking advantage of support available to them.
She said young people constituted a significant proportion of Ghana’s population and would play a critical role in determining the country’s future.
Dr Naphambo made the call during a field visit to the Youth Engagement Centre (YEC) at Adidome in the Central Tongu District as part of a UNICEF and UNFPA tour of the Adolescent Girls Programme (AGP), funded by Global Affairs Canada, to assess its implementation, progress and impact in the Volta Region.
She said the AGP was being jointly implemented by UNICEF and UNFPA, with the Steering Committee providing strategic guidance to ensure that the programme remained focused on its objectives.
Dr Naphambo expressed appreciation to Global Affairs Canada for supporting the programme from 2026 to 2030, saying the investment was based on the potential of Ghana’s young population.
She urged adolescent girls to stay in school and avoid early pregnancy, while encouraging boys to concentrate on their education and stay away from drugs.
“You have your parents. You have your traditional leaders. You have health professionals who are all willing to support you in your journey,” she told the young people.
Dr Naphambo said the programme was intended to help young people build a better future and encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities and support available to them.
She urged the beneficiaries to look forward to 2030 as a period to reflect on their progress and achievements.
Mr Addison Dodzi Mornyuie, the Central Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE), said the Youth Engagement Centre had been put back into use after remaining in a dilapidated state and unused for about three to four years.
He said the centre had been operational for some months and was open from Monday to Friday, between 0800 hours and 1700 hours, to young people and members of the public seeking to learn and access support.
He said the centre had laptops and free internet services to facilitate learning, while professionals were also invited to educate young people on issues relevant to their development.
Mr Mornyuie said the increasing number of young people visiting the centre had necessitated plans to expand the facility to accommodate more beneficiaries.
He said discussions were underway with the District Education Directorate to introduce programmes that would specifically enable schoolchildren to use the centre for learning, with facilitators available to support them.
Mr Yao Semoade, the Volta Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA), expressed appreciation to the AGP Steering Committee for its support and for visiting the centre.
He said the continued collaboration among the implementing partners and local stakeholders was important to strengthen youth engagement and ensure that the centre served its intended purpose.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo