Oxford Summit: Youth development must be treated with urgency, not an afterthought - NYA CEO Osman Ayariga

Osman Abdulai Ayariga, CEO of the National Youth Authority (NYA), called for urgent global action on youth development during a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Youth Development Summit, organised by the Commonwealth Youth Council at the University of Oxford. He stressed that youth development "must be treated with urgency and not as an afterthought."

Mr. Ayariga explained that Ghana's approach to youth development is anchored in its National Youth Policy principle: "Benefit for youth, involve youth - together for a prosperous future." He noted that youth inclusion has been institutionalised through leadership representation and participatory governance structures. He cited the representation of persons with disabilities in leadership roles at the NYA. He also noted that representatives of marginalised youth groups serve on district and regional youth committees and on the governing boards of youth institutions. He referenced flagship interventions such as the National Apprenticeship Programme and the Adwumawura Programme, which include quota systems for marginalised youth, targeted outreach strategies, and pre-implementation consultations with disabled youth, rural youth, displaced populations, and refugees.

To ensure sustainability, Mr. Ayariga said Ghana is building permanent structures for youth participation, including platforms such as the Ghana Network of Youth with Disabilities. He also disclosed ongoing efforts to establish a structured platform for refugee youth to strengthen their participation in national development processes. He urged countries across the Commonwealth to adopt three key approaches: shift from participation to co-decision-making, integrate inclusion into programme design from the outset, and institutionalise youth engagement through permanent governance structures.