‘No Future Without Youth Leadership’- Dr. Wemakor Declared At UN@80 Landmark Conference, Calls for Empowerment

Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has issued a bold warning: “Youth leadership is not optional; it is a development imperative.”

Speaking at a landmark National Civil Society Conference at the UPSA Auditorium in Accra on Wednesday December 10, he emphasized that Ghana and Africa cannot achieve sustainable development without empowering young people, who constitute the largest demographic in the country and across much of Africa.

The conference, held to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations (UN@80) and the 2025 International Human Rights Day, brought together diplomats, civil society leaders, women’s rights advocates, academics, and youth groups to reaffirm the central role of civic actors in safeguarding human rights and strengthening multilateral cooperation.

Speaking also as Convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on the SDGs, Dr. Wemakor highlighted several pressing challenges affecting Ghanaian youth: limited participation in policymaking, rising unemployment, digital misinformation, and vulnerability to drug abuse, violence, and radicalization.

He showcased the transformative work of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, including the Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on Kidnapping Teenage Pregnancy and Tramadol/Drug Abuse (KTT Project), which has educated over 60,000 Ghanaians on kidnapping, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse.

“Youth are not just beneficiaries of policy; they are key agents of change. When young people are empowered, societies thrive,” he said.

Dr. Wemakor called on government, civil society, and the UN system to adopt a bold, youth-centered agenda: institutionalize youth participation, protect civic freedoms, invest in innovation and digital literacy, strengthen partnerships, and prioritize marginalized youth.

“Token inclusion is not enough; we need real power-sharing and real opportunities for the next generation,” he stressed.

The conference, organized by the Coalition of NGOs Associated with the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) Ghana, placed particular emphasis on gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive development, highlighting the crucial role of civil society in holding governments accountable.

Special Guest of Honour, Rev. Canon Dr. Lawrence Tetteh, Chief Patron of the International Youth Network for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (IYNUNSCR), emphasized the universality of human dignity. He urged Ghanaians to reject discrimination, defend fundamental freedoms, and sustain interfaith harmony as a foundation for peaceful coexistence and national unity.

Dr. Angela Dwamena Aboagye, Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, highlighted the need for stronger national commitment to gender justice, stressing that persistent inequalities continue to undermine human rights progress in Ghana. She called for enhanced law enforcement, increased women’s leadership, protection of vulnerable groups, and family support as a foundation for human rights.

Dr. Dwamena noted that investing in women is investing in society, as women bear the brunt of unpaid labour while contributing disproportionately to national development.

Mrs. Theophiline Bannerman, Convener of the Coalition of NGOs Associated with the UN DGC, described civil society as “the lifeblood of global cooperation.” She emphasized the critical role of non-state actors in ensuring policies reflect the realities of ordinary people, not just official rhetoric, and called for stronger collaboration between NGOs, government agencies, and the UN system to address issues affecting women, children, and youth.

Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Executive Director of EIB Network, urged stronger investment in women’s participation across all sectors.

“For Africa to thrive, we must create spaces where women lead, innovate, and make decisions that shape our economies, communities, and governance. Gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it is a national imperative,” she said.

She also announced the Women in Sustainability Africa Summit, scheduled for May 21, 2026, aimed at amplifying women’s voices in policy, entrepreneurship, and climate action.

The conference concluded with a unified call for strengthened collaboration among civil society, government, and global partners to advance human dignity, gender justice, youth empowerment, and sustainable development, as the United Nations enters a new decade of global action.