Accra, Jan. 28, GNA – Mr Michael Leslie Bartlett-Vanderpuye, the newly inducted Greater Accra Regional Patron of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), says he will build in the youth the skills of entrepreneurship.
During an outdooring ceremony organised by the Accra Regional Council, he said community development would be his focus by promoting youth innovation and skills development through entrepreneurship.
The YMCA helps young people to better themselves and contribute meaningfully to improving their communities and the world in general.
Mr Bartlett-Vanderpuye told the Ghana News Agency that with his background as an entrepreneur and result-oriented person he would endeavour mentor the youth to develop their ideas.
“I always work as a team so I am going to rely on what agenda they have, and I will use my expertise to bring them afloat. I like results so I am going to mentor,” he said.
The youth kept complaining about inadequate job opportunities, however, the mentorship would help curb the unemployment threat, particularly among graduates.
Meanwhile, Mr James Ekow Rhule, the President, Africa Alliance of YMCAs, tasked members to work for the benefit and progress of their communities.
He said it was imperative that they devoted themselves to supporting the less-privileged since they formed the future of the nation.
“We start to gain a lot when we devote ourselves to supporting the less privileged, most especially the needy among the youth,” Mr Rhule said.
He said to achieve that they needed to devote all their time and resources to develop the young talents so they would be able to sell the continent.
Madam Akosua Manu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, said the YMCA had been a pillar of youth development in Ghana and the globe, adding that its operations were in line with the Authority.
She urged members to continue their community developmental projects to improve livelihoods.
The Authority would engage more than 100,000 youth this year to provide them career training and leadership skills and inculcate in them the spirit of volunteerism and patriotism, she said.
GNA