Takoradi: Mr. Frank Ofosu-Asante, the Western Regional Director of the National Population Council, has announced plans to advocate for increased youth involvement in government policies and programmes over the next three months. This initiative aims to highlight opportunities available for young people through various government interventions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Ofosu-Asante emphasized the importance of creating awareness among the youth about government programmes designed to cater to their needs. He stated that the regional secretariat of the National Population Council would focus on supporting family systems by providing comprehensive education on relationships, sexual and reproductive health, responsible parenting, and building strong and healthy families. Additionally, the council plans to prioritize initiatives that promote leadership, financial literacy, and skills development among the youth.
The programme is part of the activities marking this year’s World Population Day celebration. The national theme, ‘Empowering the Youth to Create Quality Families in an Inclusive Society,’ underscores the importance of empowering young people in matters that directly affect them. Mr. Ofosu-Asante remarked that the celebration focuses on self-determination, inclusiveness, and the autonomy of the youth in redefining family structures, acknowledging the various consequences their actions and decisions could have on political, social, economic, and environmental fronts.
World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, was instituted by the United Nations in 1989 to raise awareness about global population dynamics and their impact on the environment and development. The global theme for this year is ‘Empowering Young People to Create the Families They Want in a Fair and Hopeful World.’ In Ghana, the National Population Council, along with its partners, organizes a series of activities for the celebration, including community durbars, dialogue sessions, radio and television discussions, drama performances, inter-school debates, fun games, and public sensitization events.